March 17, 2005 at 9:31 a.m.
Schindler’s reputation continues to grow
Schindler’s reputation continues to grow
Despite being picked to finish third in the section at the beginning of the season by at least one basketball publication, Schindler’s troops defied the odds again. It’s just another chapter in Dan Schindler’s Guide to Coaching. If the book ever hits the stands, expect it to become a best-seller immediately.
Truth be told, when polling basketball purists from around the area, everyone has a different theory as to why the veteran head coach has become the best in the business. Just ask them.
“He is so well prepared for every game,” said Becky Leuer, North Branch Activities Director. “He scouts, he knows what the other team is doing. They are always in position to win. He’s never out-coached.”
Ed Wachutka, a long-time colleague of Schindler’s at Chisago Lakes, agrees.
“He is so prepared. He comes out with offensive and defensive strategies that match their opponents,” remarked Wachutka. “Also, the way he handles the game sets him apart. He has a standard of play in his program and he handles his kids well. He gets a lot out of his team.”
You can’t argue with any of the theories, especially the last one. Take this season for example. Despite losing four seniors from last year’s team, three of which were all-conference, Schindler surprised everyone by leading his team back to the state tournament for the fifth time in school history. This year’s team finished with 23 wins which was the seventh time since the 1992-93 season that a North Branch squad surpassed the 20 win mark. Under Schindler, the Vikings have also won the conference seven times.
Still, with all the success that Schindler has had, this season ranks as one if his best, or maybe even the best. Considering the fact that after 11 games, North Branch was 7-4, no one could’ve even predicted what was about to happen. What did happen was 17 wins over the next 20 games. For their efforts, Schindler was named state class 3A coach of the year in addition to section co-coach of the year.
“I think they’re all enjoyable. Some people have asked me, since I’ve been lucky enough to get the state tournament, which one’s the best. I think it’s always the moment that you’re in because you work with those kids over four months and each one is so special. But this one had to be up there in terms of being special because I don’t even know if the coaching staff saw this one coming,” said Schindler. “This might be the best year, that’s what we feel as a coaching staff. It’s always fun when you’re the underdog. Our kids believe in our program, our coaches believe and I think that’s the thing.”
As to what he feels the secret to success has been?
“We told them from day one that they had to get to practice, that they had to work harder than anybody else and I think this team has probably out-worked most, and you have to play with good intensity and want it more,” remarked Schindler.
“You take Friday morning, the day we won the section championship, the kids were in here shooting at 7 a.m. It was a day off from school but they all knew they had to get up and do that. I think we do the little things. The other thing the kids do, probably more than some of my better teams in the past, is that they really study and scout. We have a good scouting report and films and they really watched a lot of film on Andover. I think we were really prepared, they didn’t do anything that surprised us. We do the little things and I think it’s the little things that get’s you over the top.”
Little things that have continued to add up. So have the wins for Schindler, who now has 299 career wins. He’ll have to wait until next season for that.
He’ll have to wait until June for another honor. It was announced last week that he will be inducted into the Girls Basketball Hall of Fame this summer to which he replied, “A lot of great players and a lot of great assistant coaches.”
Modest until the very end.
Comments:
Commenting has been disabled for this item.