Steve Schairer, whose last day on the job as King Philip Regional’s athletic director is June 30, has had a dynamic and successful run in that role. During his 10 years as the Warriors’ athletic chief, KP won six state championships.
Successful teams are a plus but Schairer has been around long enough to know that turning out quality individuals who learn important life lessons from athletics is a key part of the administrative role he’s fulfilled so admirably.
Now 62, Schairer has some specific plans in retirement. Among them are traveling, playing guitar in the Father and Son’s Band and assisting his son Matt, who now is Dean College’s lacrosse coach.
A graduate of Southern Connecticut State where he earned a degree in physical education, Schairer later got his masters in athletic administration at Northern Colorado University. He coached football at the high school level but he’s directed lacrosse teams at York College (Jamaica, N.Y.), Northern Colorado and Dean College. Schairer was an A.D. at the high school level in Colorado and was the supervisor of the phys-ed department at Dean.
Coaches and former coaches who worked for Schairer consider themselves fortunate to have been on KP’s staff during his tenure. Here’s a thumbnail look at their opinions.
Brian Lee
Brian Lee has been KP’s varsity football coach for 12 years and during that time his Warrior squads have won four Hockomock League championships and one Super Bowl. Football is a high profile sport and much work has to be done behind the scenes for each week’s game to go smoothly. Lee admires the way Schairer performed those duties.
“Being an A.D. today is a thankless job that involves lots of hours,’’ Lee said. “When things go poorly, the A.D. usually is blamed. And, when there’s success, an A.D. never gets credit. When it was game day, I just had to be concerned with coaching because Steve coordinated everything else that was going on.’’
Lee didn’t have to worry about lining up volunteers for the chain gang or who was going to sing the National Anthem. Crowd control and security were issues left to Schairer.
“When Super Bowl week arrived, Steve helped take the pressure off,’’ Lee noted. “Rosters had to be submitted, permission slips had to be filled out, names had to be given for an MIAA breakfast and headsets had to be tested. On game day, our liaison was late getting to the field house at Gillette. We didn’t know what time to leave that facility and move to the stadium. It was Steve who found the official, making our arrival at the field go smoothly.’’
Lee labeled Schairer “old school,’’ a reference to the A.D. supporting his staff and dealing with outside interference. “We live in a ‘me’ society but Steve is a ‘we’ kind of guy. He was special and he was supportive.’’
Jim Lehan
Jim Lehan, a Norfolk Selectman who has played, coached, and refereed ice hockey in different parts of the country, took the head-coaching reins of KP’s program four years ago at the age of 67. He informed Schairer that his tenure would be short-term, hoping to install his philosophy then relinquish control. Former Warrior star player Paul Carlow replaced Lehan in 2015, two years after Lehan was chosen as head coach.
“I was away from coaching for awhile and I discovered early on that the process was very different when I returned,’’ Lehan said. “There were so many new aspects. Technology changed and so did the culture around coaching. Steve provided great counsel in what was a changed world for me.’’
Lehan said that “the enthusiasm of parents sometimes gets in the way,’’ and that Schairer helped him in that regard. “I’m glad parents support their kids but many of today’s coaches are leaving because of outside interference,’’ said Lehan. “It’s a reality and it exists everywhere.’’
Lehan called Schairer “a coach’s A.D,’’ and emphasized that “I never felt like I worked for Steve; I felt like he and I were partners.’’
Norm Beauchemin
Norm Beauchemin, who led KP’s softball team to the Division 1 state championship last year, has coached the sport at a variety of schools and worked for six different athletic directors. He rates Schairer “at the top.’’
“Steve is a fantastic person, a great listener, supportive and extremely efficient,’’ Beauchemin said. “If he could help your program, he was more than glad to assist, whether that meant purchasing things or dealing with a player. When we had our banquet, he always picked up the trophies at the supplier. He got things done.’’
Beauchemin’s squad plays its home games in Plainville and he noted that “Steve tries to see at least a half dozen of the girls’ games.’’
“Steve is leaving big shoes to fill and he will be missed,’’ Beauchemin emphasized.
Pat Weir
Pat Weir has been KP’s baseball coach for the last four years and he emphasized that Schairer allowed his coaches to coach, making the job easier. “Steve let his coaches focus on that aspect,’’ Weir noted. “He let you do your job and he never micromanaged. It’s a lot easier when you’ve got the support of your boss.’’
Weir also said that Schairer always had solutions to problems and that “I never heard him say ‘no’ when he was asked to help.’’
“Whatever the situation was, Steve would come up with a solution,’’ Weir said. “And, he always delivered on a request. If he couldn’t get something done immediately, he’d ask his coaches how it could get done. In the last 10 years, Steve Schairer has been the one common denominator in the success of all of KP’s athletic programs.’’
Ed Moran
Ed Moran, who coached baseball at KP for 16 years, was on the committee to choose a new A.D. when the vacancy occurred 10 years ago. The veteran coach knew immediately that Schairer was not only the best choice, but also a candidate bound for a successful run.
“Steve had a great grasp of the role an A.D. plays and he had lots of knowledge about many sports,’’ Moran said. “I could tell he was determined to put his heart into the job, and as a coach, that’s all you can ask.’’
Moran labeled Schairer as “an A.D. who had the coaches’ backs,’’ and he mentioned an example that at times can be difficult for a coach and a player. “Cutting a player is always tough,’’ Moran said. “Some would go to Steve about my decision. He’d ask me for my opinion and thoughts and he would be supportive. An A.D.’s job is difficult but he handled his position with class and dignity.’’
John Adams
Three years ago, the Warriors’ wrestling program was on the ropes but Schairer played a key role in helping the sport survive when he hired John Adams as coach. “Steve interviewed me and appointed me as wrestling coach,’’ Adams recalled. “He had been considering discontinuing the sport.’’
Adams also labeled Schairer as “an old-school A.D.’’ and he admired his motivation. “Steve was concerned in making the KP athletic program top-notch,’’ Adams stressed. “There’s a phrase in the military and it applies to Steve. It’s improvise, adapt and overcome. That’s Steve, who was also accommodating and supportive.’’
Adams said he could walk into Schairer’s office any time and “he’d listen, he’d understand, and if necessary, he’d respond.’’
Jeff Plympton
Jeff Plympton, a former KP pitcher who played in the Major Leagues with the Boston Red Sox, has been Wrentham’s Recreation Director for 14 years and his association with Schairer can be described as “pleasant and friendly.’’
“Steve was always professional and he had a great temperament for the A.D. job,’’ Plympton said. “He balanced that position so well. Being an A.D. in 2017 is very different than what it was like in 1985. Today, there’s lots of outside interference. Steve adapted so effectively. He isn’t an ‘I’ kind of guy, he’s a ‘we’ kind of person.’’
Plympton said that when it came to decisions on fields, Schairer worked with him to coordinate their use in outstanding fashion.
Issue Date:
June, 2017
Article Body:
Column: