PG North: Longtime Avonworth coach Schulz says good-bye

Thursday, July 12, 2007

By Rick Shrum, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Humble pie? Bob Schulz was force-fed a prodigious slice of it in high school.

Schulz was the starting point guard for the Avonworth boys' basketball team from 1962-64. "This was before the 3-point shot, which was my thing," he recalled. "I did not run well."

On this play, though, that wasn't necessary. Or so it seemed. He had a breakaway in a scrimmage against almighty Midland.

"I went up for a layup and was 2¹/₂ steps ahead of Simmie Hill," Schulz said. "He pinned it on the backboard. Where did he come from?"


Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Bob Schulz has enjoyed many successes over his long career at Avonworth High School. Click photo for larger image.

From the planet Krypton, perhaps; Hill is a WPIAL all-timer. For many players, that rejection would have quelled their enthusiasm for basketball. For Schulz, it was a lesson in humility that, apparently, endures today.

Schulz, 61, retired recently after 27 years as a head coach at his alma mater -- 15 with the boys' program and the past 12 with the girls'. By all measures, he was a smashing success. Yet you wouldn't know it by his demeanor.

"This is about the kids more than anything else," Schulz said, frequently, during an interview. "I was proud to have had good athletes who are good people as well.

"I got a card in the mail a few weeks ago from a former player, thanking me for a number of things. That made me feel good."

Without elaborating, Schulz -- a leukemia survivor -- said he retired for "personal health reasons."

His successor is Julie Moehring, a former Avonworth star and "my loyal assistant for eight years," Schulz said. "She and Shana Green were outstanding assistants who should do well together."

He certainly did well, compiling an overall record of 456-209, a .686 percentage. Schulz also was a two-time WPIAL medalist, his girls' team winning Class AA gold in 2005 and Class A silver in 2000.

The 2004-05 squad went 28-1, losing only to Westmont Hilltop, the eventual runner-up, in the PIAA second round. Though Avonworth has advanced to the WPIAL semifinals the past four seasons, it has made only championship-game appearance during that stretch, in 2005.

"That was a really exciting time," Schulz said. "To get over the semifinal hump and win a WPIAL title was great.

"I enjoyed all the teams I had, but that one was special because it got over the hump."

The girls' program was marvelous during his tenure. Avonworth qualified for the postseason in each of his 12 years, extending its streak of playoff appearances to 16. The Antelopes have won 20 games-plus the past 11 winters.

The most recent one ended with a 24-5 mark, or 24-2 against opponents not named North Catholic. The Trojanettes swept the two Section 4-A matchups, then eliminated the Antelopes in the PIAA Class A quarterfinals.

Schulz's squad made two postseason surges despite not having Tiffany Koehler for any of the six playoff games and Morgan Locher for the last four. Both had anterior cruciate ligament injuries that required surgery.

"We were probably playing our best basketball at the end of the regular season," Schulz said. "I was excited because we were cooking on all cylinders. Morgan got hurt in the second playoff game and Tiffany about two weeks before.

"We lost two of our top seven players, but the other kids really hung tough."

So has Schulz. In 1992, following 15 years in charge of the Avonworth boys' program, he found out he had leukemia. He tried to coach the next season, but his condition forced him to resign.

Less than three years later, Dave Williams -- possessor of three WPIAL titles -- had to resign as the Avonworth girls' coach because he had cancer. Schulz, having overcome his disease, wanted to coach again. He succeeded Williams, who would die a year later, in 1996.

Now Schulz has retired from coaching, three years after he did so as a teacher, 43 years after he played hoops and baseball for the final time as an Antelope. He moved on to Kent State, where he did not compete in varsity athletics but helped the basketball staff with scouting.

"It really helped with my coaching later on," said Schulz, who also was Avonworth's athletic director from 1985-2003.

Health and family are his priorities now. Schulz and his wife of 37 years, Vicki, live in Ross. They have two daughters in their 30s who live nearby, in McCandless and Cranberry. There are three grandchildren to occupy them, including one who is a mere 2 weeks old.

Then when the snow flies, there will be Avonworth girls' hoops.

"Oh yeah, I plan to see those kids play," Schulz said. "I've known them for so many years.

"The team should be very competitive. Morgan and Tiffany will be back for the start of the season. Abbey Francis will be back."

Schulz leaves the bench with no regrets.

"I enjoyed all 27 years as a head coach," said Schulz, who declined to discuss the differences between coaching both genders. "I had a lot of success in both programs. I remember the last 12 seasons better because they're the most recent 12."

Well ... a few regrets.

"I'm going to miss this very much," Schulz said. "This has been part of my life. In this type of job, where you work with kids, there are lots of rewards. You see them grow, develop into good people.

"Part of me would have liked to have continued, but I have some issues I have to take care of."

Schulz by the numbers

Bob Schulz, 60, has resigned after 27 years as a varsity head basketball coach at Avonworth, his alma mater. Here is a breakdown of his career:

Overall record: 456-209.