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FOR THE RECORD
Mr.
NewCath
Bob Schneider
State Champs 2005
State Champs 2006 |
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STATE CHAMPS
December 3, 2005
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Photos |
Thoroughbreds romp 42-7
Schneider Gets 302nd Win,
2nd state crown
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LOUISVILLE - It might have looked
easy, but Newport Central Catholic coach Bob Schneider knew better.
The legendary coach, whose teams had lost
their last four state finals appearances, gripped the Class A state
championship trophy like a long-lost love Saturday night at Papa John's
Cardinal stadium. His team had just scored the second most lopsided
victory in 1A finals history, a 42-7 victory over Mayfield.
"It's not easy," he said.
"What went through my head - in 1985 we had a 14-0 lead over
Mayfield (in the finals) and we lost the game. There's nothing easy. ...
We worked too hard to let it get away."
The Thoroughbreds scored touchdowns on
four of their first five possessions, taking a 28-0 lead into halftime.
Senior quarterback Sam Diehl finished the game with 256 passing yards
and four touchdown passes.
His first scoring toss was a 16-yard
strike to Scott Gesenhues in the back of the end zone. Two possessions
later, on the 'Breds' first play of a drive, Diehl hit Kevin Bueter on a
66-yard fly route. The extra point made the score 14-0. While the
Cardinal concentrated on Josh Canafax, the Thoroughbreds' leading
receiver, Bueter and Gesenhues flourished. Canafax managed just two
catches for 10 yards, but Bueter and Gesenhues combined for seven
catches for 173 yards and three scores.
"When we're catching balls, it opens
a lot of things up," Gesenhues said. "Josh is our main
receiver. But when they try to shut him down, we can step up."
Canafax contributed the next time NewCath
got the ball, returning a punt 54 yards to put NewCath ahead three
touchdowns. On the Thoroughbreds' next possession Diehl capped a
14-play, 93-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. NewCath's defense
made sure the lead was more than enough. Mayfield entered the red zone
only once, a late touchdown drive on the Thoroughbreds' second-string
defense.
"We figured if we shut the running
game down we'd shut down their offense," said senior linebacker
Brandon Kohrs, who led NewCath with nine tackles and an interception.
"We wanted to make them uncomfortable throwing the ball and that's
what we were able to do."
NewCath ended the blowout with two more
touchdown passes, a 35-yard score from Diehl to Gesenhues and a 32-yard
score from Diehl to Kohrs, who also played tight end.
NewCath's Michael Vicars rushed for 87
yards on 24 carries. The Thoroughbreds outgained Mayfield 397 yards to
210.
As time wound down, NewCath players
rushed the field. Schneider sent his seniors out to claim the trophy,
the school's first football title since 1984's Class AA championship.
The seniors quickly returned the trophy to Schneider.
"This is all for coach," said
senior defensive lineman Justin Smith.
The victory gave Schneider, who earlier
this season became the state's career coaching wins leader, his 302nd
win and his second state title. Schneider has repeatedly insisted that
win or lose Saturday night he would continue as the head coach of his
alma mater.
Asked after the game if his 40th season
would be his last, he looked down at the trophy in his arms. "What
do you think?" he asked. |
The Enquirer/Ernest Coleman
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Newport Central Catholic's Noah Litmer (74) rejoices with
teammates after NCC's 42-7 victory over Mayfield on Saturday in the
Class A state championship game
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NewCath coach Bob Schneider holds the state championship
trophy after the Thoroughbreds defeated Mayfield.
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September, 18, 2005
Newport
Central Catholic High School coach Bob Schneider clasps hands with
senior lineman Justin Smith on Saturday after NewCath beat Holy Cross,
giving Schneider his 293rd win.
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Schneider now tops in state
By Shannon Russell
Enquirer staff writer
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Forty-year head football coach Bob Schneider has long
been a legend at Newport Central Catholic. Now he's a legend in the
state of Kentucky.
The 67-year-old won his 293rd game Saturday afternoon
and went in the state record book as the prep football all-time wins
leader. The Thoroughbreds beat Holy Cross 48-7 at Holmes High School and
boosted Schneider's record to 293-167-2.
He succeeds Joe Jaggers, formerly of North Hardin, who
had 292 wins in 33 seasons. Schneider tied Jaggers Sept. 2 when the 'Breds
beat Ryle, but the milestone was put on hold the next week when
Covington Catholic beat NewCath 42-0.
"I had butterflies because we got beat bad last
week, and I wanted to make sure we weren't today," Schneider said.
"That was all that was on my mind, believe me."
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After the win, the 'Breds spared Schneider a Gatorade
bath. They simply filed back onto their bus without fanfare - just the way
Schneider likes it.
"He's like the most humble guy I've ever met. He's
all about his team and everybody else," quarterback Sam Diehl said.
"I'm sure he's happy ... but I'm sure it's his last priority."
Schneider said he was honored and planned to put the game
ball in his "office" at home, a converted walk-in closet.
"It's outstanding," said Dave Schneider, Bob
Schneider's son and NewCath's offensive coordinator. "He hasn't just
been doing this for a lot of years - he's been doing it well for a lot of
years."
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September 17, 2005
Bob
Schneider sets the victories record in his 40th year at Newport Central
Catholic. (The Enquirer/Ernest Coleman)
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One for the record
books
Diehl's three TDs push NewCath past Holy Cross 48-7
By Shannon Russell
Enquirer staff writer
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The all-time winningest coach in Kentucky prep football
history stood at midfield with the game ball and couldn't think of a
thing to say.
"I'm pretty speechless right now, really,"
Newport Central Catholic coach Bob Schneider said. "It's a big
honor."
Saturday afternoon Schneider made history by leading the
Thoroughbreds, ranked fourth in The Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches'
poll, over Holy Cross 48-7 in a Class A district opener at Holmes High
School.
The 40th-year NewCath coach notched his 293rd career win
and moved into first place for Kentucky all-time coaching wins. His
overall record is 293-167-2.
Schneider, 67, tied former North Hardin coach Joe
Jaggers - now ranked second in all-time wins - on Sept. 2 when the 'Breds
beat Ryle 25-23. The much-anticipated record-breaker was put on hold
eight days later when Covington Catholic stunned NewCath 42-0.
Schneider had had enough of the spotlight by then, and
grew anxious about another week of speculation.
"I told my team that everybody in the state was
calling me and asking me about last week," he said. "And then
they were calling Monday and saying, 'What happened?' I said, 'Let's get
this thing over with.'"
The 'Breds delivered. NewCath rolled up 451 total yards
and held Holy Cross to 232 yards, and extinguished any possibility of
acomeback after the first quarter.
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After an interception by each team and a NewCath score
that was negated by a holding call, senior fullback Nic Wrobleski
officially put NewCath on the board with a 3-yard score, and Scott
Gesenhues hit the first of six PATs.
Holy Cross quarterback Gerald Walker mounted a rushing
campaign on the next series that left junior halfback Anthony Penny poised
for a 1-yard score. Bruce Arlinghaus' PAT tied the score at 7.
Enter Sam Diehl. The quarterback, who sat out the first
nine minutes for forgetting part of his equipment, opened a passing game
that yielded three touchdowns in the second quarter, starting with a
20-yard touchdown pass to senior Kevin Bueter.
"The game is tenuous, right on the edge for us,
because we've never beaten that team. We notched that first score and I
thought, 'OK, we're doing well.' Then they made a big play and it was
right down the drain," Holy Cross coach Bruce Kozerski said.
Diehl finished with 12-of-15 passing for 192 yards and the
three scores. Top receiver Josh Canafax had eight receptions for 128 yards
and a touchdown.
But as the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter, all
eyes were on Schneider. When the game officially ended, Kozerski presented
Schneider with the ball and the crowd saluted him with a standing ovation.
Schneider admitted the milestone meant a lot.
"It's perseverance as much as anything - working 40
years to get a record is probably a long time. I still like what I'm
doing," he said. "It's a great time."
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September 18, 2005
FOR THE RECORD
Mr.
NewCath
By Ryan Ernst/ Enquirer
staff writer
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Bob Schneider
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SCHNEIDER THROUGH THE YEARS
For 40 years, Bob Schneider has been a constant on the
Northern Kentucky football landscape. The wins, like the years and
memories, have added up.
NEW FACE AT NEWCATH
First-year Newport Central Catholic coach Bob Schneider (front right)
and Newport coach Sherill Morgan (front left) each have a hand on the
Victory Bell trophy before the second annual "Tournament for the
Bell" in 1966. The bell is a traveling trophy presented to the
champion. There were some lean early years for Schneider's teams, but he
stuck it out.
ON A ROLL
Bob Schneider's coaching fortunes turned during the 1974 season. He
posted his third winning season at NewCath and made the playoffs. From
1974 through 1997, the Thoroughbreds had a .500 or better record.
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FINALLY A CHAMP
The mid-1980s were the golden years for the NewCath program. Schneider
led the Thoroughbreds to the state championship game three seasons in a
row starting in 1984, when they won the Class AA title. The team was
runner-up the next two seasons.
BACK TO THE FUTURE
After two losing seasons in 1998 and 1999, Bob Schneider showed his
mettle by leading NewCath to the state title game the next two seasons,
including here in 2001 against Danville, this time in Class A. The
school was runner-up both times. Those seasons gave Schneider his second
- or is it third? - wind, as he has won 10 straight games each of the
last five seasons. And there's no sign of the program, or Schneider,
slowing any time soon.
NO END IN SIGHT
Bob Schneider has the state win record within his grasp. Does that mean
he's close to calling it quits? Hardly. "Right now, I feel good.
... I don't really relish the idea of retiring. I just don't think
that's something I want to get into right now," the 67-year-old
said. |
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FOR THE
RECORD
1966
8-2 |
1967
4-5 |
1968
3-7 |
1969
3-7 |
1970
2-8 |
1971
5-5 |
1972
5-4-2 |
1973
4-7 |
1974
9-2 |
1975
5-5 |
1976
9-2 |
1977
7-3 |
1978
8-3 |
1979
5-5 |
1980
8-3 |
1981
8-3 |
1982
7-4 |
1983
9-4 |
1984
10-4 |
1985
9-5 |
1986
10-3 |
1987
8-3 |
1988
6-6 |
1989
9-4 |
1990
10-3 |
1991
6-5 |
1992
10-3 |
1993
11-2 |
1994
7-5 |
1995
10-3 |
1996
6-6 |
1997
6-5 |
1998
2-9 |
1999
4-8 |
2000
10-5 |
2001
13-2 |
2002
10-3 |
2003
12-1 |
2004
11-2 |
2005
State Champs |
2006
State Champs
(312 wins) |
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A list hangs over Bob Schneider's desk in his cramped but tidy
Newport Central Catholic office. It's a printout of Kentucky's all-time leaders
in high school football coaching victories. Schneider is second on that list
with 289 wins, four shy of becoming career leader.
But the list isn't there to remind Schneider how close he's
coming to the record. In fact, it's there to remind him of a record he already
holds.
"I also have the most losses on that list," Schneider
says with a chuckle. "That's what keeps it all in perspective."
Schneider, entering his 40th season as head football coach of
his alma mater, is all about perspective. Although he's almost sure to become
the state's winningest coach around midseason, he's not preoccupied with his
place in history.
"People are making a big deal out of the record. I'm kind
of torn," Schneider said. "The kids are busting their butts to have
their season. And I want it to be their season. I don't want it to be about me.
"On the other hand, I appreciate people noticing (the
record). Quite honestly, it's something that I'll cherish. Maybe not when it
happens, but down the road. But really, it's more just a record of
longevity."
Schneider makes a good point. The 67-year-old has the
second-longest career in state history. But football coaches don't make careers
simply by hanging around. There is a reason Schneider's been so successful for
such a long time.
Maybe the reason is the same perspective that hasn't allowed him
to get wrapped up in the record. Football isn't life to Schneider; it's just
part of his life.
Believe it or not, Bob Schneider, Mr. NewCath, the Grand Old Man
on the Hill, didn't even play football as a senior at the school. He worked in a
grocery store in nearby Dayton to pay tuition. And when he returned to the
school as a teacher, he had his eyes on the vacant basketball and baseball
coaching jobs, not the football job that also was open.
"The principal, who was a brother, called me in and asked
me to be (athletic director) and football coach," Schneider recalled.
"I said sure, (and became) AD for 35 years and the football coach for 40.
It was one of the most fortunate days of my life."
But everything wasn't as fortunate in Schneider's early years.
Although he went 8-2 as a 27-year-old rookie coach, the team's grueling schedule
in the Greater Cincinnati League (now the Greater Catholic League) took a toll
on him and the program. The Thoroughbreds suffered four straight losing
campaigns before leaving the league after the 1970 season. Most of their GCL
losses were lopsided.
The school's enrollment dropped, and Schneider didn't record his
third winning season until 1974. But he persevered, partly because it's his
nature and partly because, as he says, "nobody else wanted the job."
"That was the hardest time for him," Schneider's wife,
Nancy, said. "They were down in enrollment and had some really lean years.
But he never brought it home with him."
According to his family, Schneider turns his football fervor on
and off.
"On a Friday night he's the most intense guy you'll ever
see," said his son, offensive coordinator Dave Schneider. "He really
gets into it."
Never was that more apparent then during the mid-1980s.
"Those were great years," Nancy Schneider said.
"There was a lot of excitement throughout those seasons. Everything was fun
and down to the wire."
NewCath went to the Class AA state final every year from 1984
through 1986, winning the 1984 title on a late touchdown. The Thoroughbreds lost
by 10 points in the championship game the next year and by one point in overtime
in 1986.
NewCath's playoff success, particularly with injury-plagued and
often outmanned teams, made Schneider one of the top coaching names in the
state. Throughout the success, he never interviewed for another job - because of
a combination of loyalty and stubbornness, he said.
"After one of those GCL losses I remember sitting up here
in the gym and saying to myself 'I am not leaving here until I get it done,'
" he said. "I just couldn't do it. Then, once we got rolling and
through the '80s, I just never even thought of leaving."
Eventually, NewCath teams became as consistent as their coach.
From 1974 through 1997, the Thoroughbreds went without a losing record. When
they finally did drop below .500 - going 2-9 in 1998 and 4-8 in 1999 - Schneider
once again showed his mettle. Instead of retiring, he led NewCath back to the
state finals in 2000 and 2001, this time in Class A. Despite the new
classification, the result was familiar: a pair of close losses - 23-9 to
Danville in 2000 and 14-13 to Danville in 2001.
Schneider insists those state finals losses don't haunt him -
again, he says, it's all about perspective.
"They don't bother me as much as they might someone
else," he said. "I felt like, particularly in '85 and '86, we did a
great job just to get there."
Schneider has made some adjustments to keep his program a state
power in Class A. He gives more responsibilities to his assistant coaches and
adapts his offensive and defenses schemes to fit current players.
"He's stayed pretty consistent with the way he coaches
players and in what he believes in," said former NewCath standout Mike
Kiernan, who has a son on this year's team. "... (But) he's also adapted
over the years and changed with the game. He's definitely put in different plays
and different formations. He's really opened up the offense."
Midway through his fifth decade of coaching, Schneider continues
to adapt. This year he allowed his assistant coaches to devise a no-huddle
offensive system, a first for the program. Schneider's contributions have been
tweaks to the offense, which, believe it or not, he has spent some time playing
against on defense.
"We were running offensive drills the other day, the
option," said senior receiver Josh Canafax. "And he was out there
running with us. That was a sight. He was playing defense and making us read him
- quite a sight."
It's not exactly the behavior of a man ready to retire. And if
you ask Schneider, he'll tell you that's because he's not ready to retire -
record or no record, state championship or no state championship. He said he
wants to finish his commitment to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
Board of Control, of which he'll be a member through 2008. And he still has a
passion for coaching.
"Right now, I feel good. I want to do it," he said.
"I don't really relish the idea of retiring. I just don't think that's
something I want to get into right now."
And so Schneider will be back at it Friday, opening his 40th
straight season and coaching his 457th straight game, possibly one win closer to
his "record of longevity" - his greatest record of all.
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