Beloved Coach Leaves Chrisman
Autumn Garrett
6 May 2021
6 May 2021
Arguably, the most successful coach at William Chrisman over the past few years leaves to take the next step in his career, the path continuing at another school. Coach Scott Schaefer, the girls basketball coach for seven years, announced that he would be leaving to coach in his hometown of Columbus, Nebraska.
The change came as a surprise to many at Chrisman, and even to Schaefer himself. “I really didn’t plan leaving. You know, you wait a couple of weeks, after the season is over and see how I felt and where to keep going. It’s my hometown. It was where I grew up so a lot of friends are there. One of my friends called and we actually laughed over the phone about me coming back to coach basketball. And that was when a job opened up,” said Schaefer. |
|
Of course, leaving meant saying goodbye to many of the students he has spent time with over the years. It was not easy for his students and players, many whom he spent hours with during games or practices and influenced with every lesson he taught.
“[Saying goodbye] was terrible. You’re with somebody for so long - spending all over 70 practices, thirty games, and multiple preseasons with someone. You get to know them and become pretty close to them, seeing some of these kids as my own grandkids. You learn to grow and work closely with them,” said Schaefer.
“It won’t be the same. It’s like sadness and emptiness, there won’t be a better coach than Schaefer,” said Jim Underwood, who served as an assistant coach to Schaefer for 7 years.
“[Saying goodbye] was terrible. You’re with somebody for so long - spending all over 70 practices, thirty games, and multiple preseasons with someone. You get to know them and become pretty close to them, seeing some of these kids as my own grandkids. You learn to grow and work closely with them,” said Schaefer.
“It won’t be the same. It’s like sadness and emptiness, there won’t be a better coach than Schaefer,” said Jim Underwood, who served as an assistant coach to Schaefer for 7 years.
|
During his seven years with the Bears, Coach Schaefer claimed at least 135 wins- racking up an overall average win percentage of about 71%. His tenure included four 20-win seasons while also leading the girls basketball team to a fourth place in state this season. Schaefer has accomplished so much at Chrisman and proved that even more by never having a losing record while coaching here.
Schaefer has raised the bar for every coach after him, leaving big shoes to fill with the legacy he is leaving behind. But his impact on the school, his players, and his assistant coaches goes well beyond the wins and losses. “Coach Schaefer made a huge impact on me as a player because he taught me to always give my best and never quit. As a person, Coach Schaefer has taught me respect, selflessness, and to be a young lady,” said senior and varsity member Jacqueline David. |
“I was crying. I think [of] all [the] times with jokes and laughing with him, every moment was my favorite and it was always a good time with him,” said sophomore Lillian Miller.
Moments where the teams that Schaefer coached felt like family, closely knitted together through the hard work that they put into each game, every memory that Schaefer shared. When asked what his favorite memory was at Chrisman and with his players, Schaeffer answered with:
“It would be the relationships, I appreciated all the good friendships that I built here. Seeing some of these kids grow into young ladies with a value system that they built,” said Schaefer.
Schaefer has impacted multiple girls to push themselves to be the best they can, never letting them quit when things get tough.
“The biggest difference at Chrisman when Coach Schaefer leaves is just going to be that Coach Schaefer is no longer here after coaching me my entire high school career. He really is like a father figure to me and the rest of the basketball team, so knowing he will not be at Chrisman anymore makes me sad,” said David.
Moments where the teams that Schaefer coached felt like family, closely knitted together through the hard work that they put into each game, every memory that Schaefer shared. When asked what his favorite memory was at Chrisman and with his players, Schaeffer answered with:
“It would be the relationships, I appreciated all the good friendships that I built here. Seeing some of these kids grow into young ladies with a value system that they built,” said Schaefer.
Schaefer has impacted multiple girls to push themselves to be the best they can, never letting them quit when things get tough.
“The biggest difference at Chrisman when Coach Schaefer leaves is just going to be that Coach Schaefer is no longer here after coaching me my entire high school career. He really is like a father figure to me and the rest of the basketball team, so knowing he will not be at Chrisman anymore makes me sad,” said David.
“He expected a lot from [the players], making them work hard and letting them be successful from their own wins,” said Activities Director Greg McGhee. Chrisman will miss Coach Scott Schaefer and the lessons that he taught us all everyday. Coach Schaefer will proceed to impact Chrisman years after he leaves, the memory of him staying while he continues to the next step for him. “Never give up. Whatever life throws at you, just remember everything we worked on together and keep moving forward. Positive things occur with hard work,” says Coach Schaefer. |
|