time, became natural for each of the Schnitzler’s.
“The biggest thing was how he coached and taught his players,” Robb said. “I can’t say that he really pushed us into sports. I think being around him it just kind of came natural.”
Bob’s coaching didn’t change depending on who he was coaching - whether a kid of his own or someone else’s, when they were on the court, they were all the same. Bob’s coaching was kid-centered, focusing on helping them improve in areas they need help in and overall, helping them to become better athletes.
“I don’t ever feel like I was ever forced,” Robb said. “He never treated me or any of my siblings any different than anybody else on the field or on the court.”
“He would take average athletes and make them incredible athletes,” Mary said. “He could help other people rise to the occasion. It felt like to me, a lot of other athletes and kids really respected him. And I loved seeing that growing up.”
Some of Robb’s sports accomplishments included being a two-time state champion in the 100 and 200-meter dash, a one-time state champion in the 400-relay and long jump, All State in football, and playing for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln football team as a Husker. He now works as a physical therapist living in Central City with his wife, Tina, and they have four grown kids.
Mary followed in her dad’s footsteps and attended Wayne State College, participating on both the basketball and track teams. She became the 5th All-Time leading scorer in Wayne State history and was selected All Conference. During her senior year, she was chosen Athlete of the Year. Shortly after college, she went on to win the Miss Nebraska Pageant and competed in Atlantic City. She now works as a Registered Nurse in Lincoln where she lives with her husband. They have three children.
The two, along with their four other siblings, were humbled when they heard about the Battle Creek All Sports Reunion. And they knew their dad would be too.
“It’s humbling to find out how much work he (Jamie Gray) wanted to pour into it and how much of a big event he wanted to put towards it,” Mary said. “But I feel like it’s a celebration of all the community.” The main focus for the celebration that night will be on Bob - but Mary said it’s not just about his coaching, it’s about the athletes, too, who put in the work and showed up all those years’ ago.
Robb didn’t even know if it was something his parents’ would want to do.
“Because, like I said before, none of this is about him,” Robb said. “He enjoyed coaching. He enjoyed getting the most out of the players and kids and teaching them how they can be successful in life and on the field.” Both kids’ are looking forward to connecting with family, friends, and past alumni, for a great event honoring their dad and his legacy.
And thinking about the upcoming celebration, both of them can’t help but give recognition to the woman behind the scenes as they were growing up. She wasn’t the coach spending countless hours working on plays and studying the opposing teams’ plays. But she worked hard to keep the home running and making sure everyone was taken care of for whatever game or practice they had coming up.
“I have to say a lot about my mom (Lorraine). She had a lot to deal with,” Robb said. “Even though she worked, she had to take care of everything at home because he was gone early mornings to late at night.”
Her passion was found in the home, making sure her family was taken care of, and in the bleachers, cheering on her kids’ and the teams her husband coached.
“She always had her role. She always had supper ready for us after practice and she was so supportive,” Mary said. “She was always at every event that we were doing.” Mary specifically remembers her mom picking out special clothes for Bob the night before a game. When the kids’ were playing, Lorraine held onto the program for the entire night, keeping a tally of how many points they scored and then saving it for their scrapbook. Each scrapbook held memories from articles to stats to photos - not just from sports but all high school events.
The Schnitzler family’s honors and awards go far. But they all come back to one foundation family and God.
“Dad didn’t coach or do things to be successful because he wanted all the honors,” Robb said. “His goal was to make people be successful. The people he coached and taught. He wanted them to be successful versus about him.”
Bob’s fixed mindset of not doing it for the recognition and honor was passed down to his kids. Their motivation wasn’t to always be recognized but to keep working to be successful and keeping God at the forefront.
“Family is so important. God is so important,” Mary said. “To this day it’s so important to him and my mom. Being supportive of each other.” The couple set the standard for their kids whether they realized it or not, by living out the example they wanted to set for their kids.
“All I can say is that our family has been blessed. And so much of that has to do with making God a big part of our lives,” Robb said. “We care about one another.”
Did they have a lot of ups and downs while growing up? Yes, definitely. But Bob and Lorraine were a living example of leaning on each other for support to get back up and keep going. The big family gatherings the Schnitzler’s have throughout the years play a big role in keeping that support going and passing it down.
“Being there for our family when they need us - good and bad times,” Mary said. “I think those are important lessons because he was there for us all in all those times.”
