Scott Schmitz is retiring as Mitchell’s football coach, the high school announced via Twitter on Friday morning.
Schmitz, who started the football program in 2000, said he’s given everything he could in 36 years of coaching, and now he wants to spend more time with his family.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” Schmitz said. “There are, obviously, things I’m not going to miss, but I’m going to miss the kids, and I’m going to miss that locker room. There’s nothing like Friday night.”
Schmitz coached 12 total seasons. He resigned from the football coaching position in 2008, saying at the time that he was “tired,” but was rehired in 2011.
The Mustangs had three consecutive playoffs appearances from 2002-04 under Schmitz, and the team finished 6-4 this season. He finished with a record of 57-63 during his overall tenure at Mitchell.
Schmitz stayed involved with the school during the two years he wasn’t coaching football. He worked as Mitchell’s girls golf coach and was named coach of the year by the Tampa Bay Times and the Sunshine Athletic Conference both years.
He said that won’t be the case this time. He plans to spend his time with his granddaughters.
“I was fortunate to be able to come back for three more years, and I enjoyed it,” Schmitz said. “But it’s just time.”