Much work in store for journeyman Schaefer at Oakland Christian

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

AUBURN HILLS — In over 30 years of coaching prep football, Bill Schaefer has always been the bridesmaid, not the bride.

Although just a figure of speech, Schaefer has always been an assistant coach until now. Schaefer was hired as the new football coach at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian early in the year and has been busy laying the groundwork for what he hopes will bear some fruit down the road.

This is his first head coaching job.

“I was hired to come in and build a program. I know it’s not going to happen overnight,” admitted Schaefer. “The program here has only been around for a couple of years and we only have around 18-20 kids this year.”

Schaffer inherits a fourth-year program with little success. The Lancers were 2-6 in 2008 in its inaugural season, 1-8 in 2009 and 2-7 in 2010, including 1-4 in the Michigan Independent Athletic Conference. The only team Oakland defeated in the league was Westland Lutheran, 14-12.

MIAC member Plymouth Christian, which was supposed to play a league schedule this season after adding football in 2009, dropped the program over the summer due to low numbers.

“As you can see, it’s not easy at a small school,” said Schaefer, whose team will open Aug. 26 against Detroit Allen Academy, another program in its infant stage. “There is a lot you have to deal with. Oakland Christian is not a football school. It’s a soccer and basketball school. It will take some time to make Oakland Christian a football school.”

Schaefer spent the past two years as a defensive coordinator at the Flint Genesee County Home School Warriors of the Christian Football League of Michigan. Before that, he had stints at Fenton, Lapeer East, Flint Powers Catholic, Flint Kearsley, Holly and Flint Holy Rosary high schools, all as an assistant.

Schaefer began coaching prep football in 1977 and is in his 34^th season overall. He has coached three players that have gone onto the NFL, including Todd Light, Jim Morrissey and Jake Long.

“I have worked with three guys who have gone onto the NFL. I know what it takes, the talent, the athleticism, the dedication for these kids to get to the next level and I also understand that it is rare,” said Schaefer, a retired electrician with General Motors. “There are so many (variables). Only a few of them ever reach that level. That’s why I’m finding it hard with today’s (mentality). They all want to specialize or are being told that they have to specialize. We have some great athletes in the school that are not football players. They only play basketball or they only play soccer. We need to change that mentality.”

Schaefer has been buys recruiting student-athletes in the school to come out for football. He has his current players in the in the weight room and making sure they are involved in multiple sports, competing, and getting ready for the upcoming 2011 season. He has also helped launch a middle school and elementary school program to help in the grass roots area.

“It’s a small school so you need kids to play multiple sports,” he added. “By having (sub-varsity) teams, we’re growing interest with the younger kids so that when they reach high school they have a better understanding of the sport and the interest is already there. A lot of the other sports already have that. There are JV, middle school, elementary school teams.”

There were 26 players on the roster last autumn and 13 of those players either graduated or elected not to return.

“We have a lot of new players, which is okay,” said Schaefer, whose team will begin practice Aug.8. “We’ll work with what we have and build from there.”

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Tags: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian Football, Bill Schaefer, high school football, prep football

Category: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, High School, Prep Wraps, Publishers Viewpoint