Many know Danny Schmitz as the most successful baseball coach in Bowling Green State University history, winning two Mid-American Conference Tournament championships, seven divisional titles and four regular season titles.
There is much more to the 56-year-old Ferndale, Mich., native, who has roamed the first-base dugout at “The Stell” since 1991 than his 568 wins at BG.
Schmitz’s managing career began in Visalia, Calif., where he coached the Minnesota Twins Class A affiliate from 1985-87. In his second year, he led Visalia to the second half Northern Division pennant and a spot in the championship series.
In ’88, he returned to his alma mater, Eastern Michigan University, where he spent three years as assistant head coach before coming to BG. The Hurons finished second in the MAC in ’88 and ’90, winning more league games than any other team in the latter year.
But before becoming a manager, there was Schmitz the player.
Earning four letters as a second baseman at EMU from 1974-77, Schmitz was a part of two teams that made it to the College World Series. The ’76 team made it all the way to the championship before losing to Arizona University, a feat never before reached by a MAC school.
He served as co-captain his senior year and was named the team’s MVP after hitting .339 in ’77 before being drafted in the 20th round by the New York Yankees.
Schmitz won five titles in his first six years in the Yankees farm system, making his AAA debut in ’78 with the Tacoma Rainiers. He played for the Mets and Twins affiliates in ’83 and ’84, ending his minor league career after eight seasons.
During his time with the Yankees’ minor league clubs, Schmitz played alongside Don Mattingly, Dave Righetti, Willie McGee and Buck Showalter.
“I have been very blessed,” Schmitz said. “It’s like the old saying from the Saturday Night Live skits, ‘Baseball’s been very very good to me.'”
The three-time MAC Coach of the Year recipient carries a team-first mentality and is not one to bask in his individual glories.
“You’re only as good as your assistant coaches and the student athletes you bring in,” Schmitz said. “I look at [the MAC Coach of the Year award] more as a team award. Without the assistant coaches and players something like that would never happen.
When rehashing his season with the Hurons in ’76, Schmitz talked of the team’s two aces, Bob Welch and Bob Owchinko, who went on to have successful Major League Baseball careers. He also credited Arizona University for earning the title. Yet he neglected to mention he was named to the all-tournament squad for his outstanding play.
Aside from being team oriented, perhaps the most impressive aspect of Schmitz’s coaching philosophy is that he strives to make sure his players succeed outside of baseball.
“We want to make sure our guys get their diploma,” Schmitz said. “When guys leave our program we want them to go out and be successful in the game of life.”
This past fall the baseball team’s 3.16 GPA was the highest among men’s teams on campus. Out of 31 players, 21 had GPAs higher than 3.0–six of which had 4.0.
Schmitz’s teams are active members in the community as well. Whether it is reading children’s books to elementary school students, visiting sick kids at the hospital or serving lunch at the senior citizen center, each year the baseball team donates time to community service.
Overall, the last 21 years have been a fun ride for Schmitz.
“I’ve been very blessed to have a wonderful family that allows me to do something that I really love,” Schmitz said. “You don’t do something for 20-plus years unless you love it.”
As the skipper enters his 22nd season, he is grateful for all of the help the program receives.
“Without the tremendous support that we have not only from our alumni but from the friends of the program, we would struggle being a mid-major,” Schmitz said. “We count on those people and their kind donations and great support to make our program go. They are as big a part of any division title, or conference championship. They play a major role.”