Chris (Ox) Schmidt

History Teacher and Assistant Football Coach at Battery Creek High School. Ithaca College ‘06.

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

IMO, this is why so many HS coaches are finding it so hard to continue, especially those of us who are also teachers. To do all these things while also having a full-time in the classroom and having a family. It’s unrealistic expectations. We all have to work together.

[William Payne @TweetsbyCoachP]

One of the biggest misconceptions in high school sports is that coaching is primarily about practices, games, and wins.

The reality is that coaching has become one of the most challenging roles in education because coaches are expected to wear dozens of hats while being evaluated from every direction.

Every parent, player, administrator, and community member often has a different expectation of success.

One family wants college recruiting to be the priority.

Another wants playing time.

Another wants winning.

Another wants player development.

Another wants discipline.

Another simply wants their child to enjoy the experience.

The challenge is that those goals frequently conflict, and coaches are often expected to satisfy all of them simultaneously.

Most coaches are balancing far more than what happens between the lines. They manage team culture, player conflicts, parent concerns, academics, transportation, fundraising, budgets, equipment, scheduling, eligibility, social media issues, and the emotional needs of teenagers.

At the same time, every roster includes athletes with different abilities, goals, motivations, and commitment levels. Some dream of college athletics. Some are trying to make varsity. Some simply want to belong. Building one program that serves all of them is incredibly difficult.

Perhaps the greatest challenge is decision-making.

Who starts?

Who plays?

Who sits?

Who travels?

Who gets moved up?

Who gets cut?

Every decision creates opportunity for one athlete and disappointment for another. Even well-intentioned decisions can be viewed as favoritism or politics when seen through the lens of an individual family.

Recruiting adds another layer of complexity. Coaches are expected to help athletes pursue college opportunities while also managing the needs of an entire team. Supporting one athlete can sometimes raise questions from another family about their child’s opportunities.

Social media has amplified many of these challenges. One lineup decision, one difficult conversation, or one emotional moment can quickly become public discussion, often without the full context.

There are also pressures many people never see.

Pressure from administrators to represent the school well.

Pressure from parents to provide opportunities.

Pressure from athletes to help them achieve their goals.

Pressure from communities that often measure success by wins and losses.

Pressure to retain athletes in an era of increasing transfers and movement.

And all of this occurs while coaches are trying to develop young people, not just athletes.

What makes coaching difficult is not that people don’t care.

It’s that everyone cares deeply, but often about different things.

Parents focus on their child.

Players focus on their opportunities.

Administrators focus on the school.

Communities focus on results.

Coaches must somehow balance all of those interests while making decisions they believe are best for the team.

As a former college coach, athletic director, and high school administrator, I’ve learned that most coaches are not trying to hold athletes back, play favorites, or make life difficult for families. Most are simply navigating competing priorities, limited resources, and difficult decisions while trying to do what’s best for kids.

Because at its core, coaching has never really been about managing games.

It’s about managing people.

And that’s what makes it both incredibly challenging and incredibly important

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

💯

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

The 10 Truths Parents Rarely See

1. Coaches lose sleep.
2. Decisions aren’t personal.
3. Playing time is complex.
4. Culture matters more than stats.
5. Accountability is care.
6. Coaches invest emotionally.
7. Development isn’t instant.
8. Hard feedback is intentional.
9. Wins don’t tell the whole story.
10. Coaches remember kids forever.

Perspective matters.

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

Thank you to @TexasTechFB for hosting us at this year’s Coaches Clinic! Coach @ZacharyP64 and I are here proudly representing the coaching tree of the one and only @CoachTeachey1 #WreckEmTech

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

Congratulations Jackson! Glad that you found your home for the next stop on your journey!!!

[Jackson Reeves @JReeves8133]

I am extremely blessed and excited to announce that I have committed to @GroveCtyCollege to further extend my athletic and academic career. I would like to thank God, my family, and my coaches for your guidance and always believing in me. Thank you to @CoachBaney @CoachDiDonato and the rest of the staff @GCC_FB for giving me an opportunity to play at the next level. @the_ironmonster @Coach_TJA @CoachSchmidt13

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

💯 truth right here. It takes what it takes, and every single person needs to be on board. Without that, it’s just not going to work. Well said!

[Fired Coaches of Georgia @FiredCoaches]

https://t.co/cqoPW6kpoj

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

@Brandon_Hughes9

[Coach Dan Casey @CoachDanCasey]

✏️ Giving away 3 copies of “Bring Your Own Pencil”

📖 Bill Walsh + Leadership

✈️ Short enough to read on a plane ride.

1. Retweet to Enter
2. Tag a someone to Enter 2x

🏆 Winners announced after the Game!

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

@edcohensports It’s a Great Day to be a Bomber!

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

@LandonLash45 @SUhornetsFB @Br0ckMcCullough @yoder847 @S_Hodgin @56ways @CoachB_Sharpe @SUHornets @ShenandoahU Congratulations, Landon! I know it’s been a long journey, but glad you found a home! The Hornets are lucky to have you!!!

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

#BillsMafia

[Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter]

Sources: the Bills are working to finalize a deal to make offensive coordinator Joe Brady their new head coach.

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

Survive and Advance!!! #BillsMafia

[Buffalo Bills @BuffaloBills]

COLE BISHOP CALLED GAME!!!!!!

📺: CBS

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

Congratulations to my brother in arms from the JV sidelines at Cleveland High! Finally official - Wakefield has got themselves a great Head Football Coach! Keep doing great things, B Hughes!!!

[Brandon Hughes @_CoachHughes]

Excited for this opportunity, let’s get to work Wolverines!!! @WakefieldHSFB @JoelBryantHSOT

[Preston Plunkett @PrestonPlunk08]

Check out my full junior season highlights through 10 games

-Finished 32nd in the state for tackles through 10 games
-119 tackles (66 solo & 53 assist)
-1 force fumble
-1 fumble recovery
-1 blocked field goal
-3 pbu

https://t.co/Q88JL7raGU

@CoachSchmidt13 @CoachTeachey1 @TopPreps @CoachA_ECU @CVance43 @HunterMacKay_ @Coach_B_Harrell @CoachB_Sharpe @TonyTrisciani @hester_chip @WatsonShawn1 @MaxPreps @nchssportspage @247recruiting
@UTLRecruitingLB @NCPrepVarsity

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

Guns Up! #WreckEm

[Texas Tech Football @TexasTechFB]

Thirty years in the making 🏆

[Texas Tech Football @TexasTechFB]

Made history. WHAT’S NEXT! 🏆

[Buffalo Bills @BuffaloBills]

Aye aye captain‼️

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

Congratulations, Jackson! Way to keep the faith and keep working hard!!!

[Jackson Reeves @JReeves8133]

Blessed, excited and thankful to @CoachNickVerna and @FUCoachHendrix for believing and trusting  in me and giving me my first D1 offer to play college football!! LET’S GO! @PaladinFootball @CoachSchmidt13 @coachjohnNCSA

[Pittman McEwen @PittmanMcEwen]

https://t.co/Aph7JvnqWz

6’3 230lbs

Full Junior Season film. Played every position on the Defensive Line. Faced a lot of adversity this year but it helped me grow as a player, teammate, and person. Working hard for my senior season. @CoachSchmidt13 @CoachB_Sharpe

[Texas Tech Football @TexasTechFB]

The goal never changes. 1-0 ✔️

[Chris (Ox) Schmidt @CoachSchmidt13]

#WreckEm

[Texas Tech Football @TexasTechFB]

Here. To. Stay.

#WreckEm | @7BCommercial