Schauer steps down as Director of Athletic Communications
MEQUON, Wis. -- Deep down at the core Concordia has always meant a great deal to me. The championships I have witnessed and have been a part of will never be forgotten. Those special moments of raising a trophy in celebration and the smiles on all of our coaches, student-athletes and staff's faces are lasting memories that can't be replaced. I have worked hundreds and hundreds of games during my nine years and have written more stories about victories than I can count. I can honestly say it never felt like I worked a day during my time and that is partly what made my position and Falcon athletics so meaningful.
The time has come, however, for me to step down as the Director of Athletic Communications and move on to the next chapter in life. While I'll still be in the communications profession, I'll be shifting my focus to the dairy industry. This move allows my wife and children to be closer to both of our families.
It was a difficult decision that had many, many hours of thought and discussion that went into it. I have and always will love athletics with a deep passion, but the schedule over the past few years began to take away from my family time and I can't get that time back.
The growth of the coverage of CUW athletics has come from the ground up since I started in 2011. That standard of excellence and expectation couldn't have happened without the support of the people around me. At any university, it always starts at the top and President Ferry's love of athletics has shown us that the wins and losses mean something, but his support gives us the push to be better.
The trickle-down effect of his leadership has changed the way the athletic department has operated over the course of time. Much of that change is because of Athletic Director Dr. Rob Barnhill and his vision. I want to thank him for taking a chance on a young guy full of energy back in the summer of 2011. His call asking me to come back as an alumnus and join the department showed me the support would always be there. During our time together he has allowed me to grow and be creative, which was extremely important in the advancement of our athletic communications coverage. Rob has rarely said no to the many, many requests I have made to him. I have always appreciated his black and white approach and willingness to sit down and take what could be a difficult conversation and make it feel valuable. Thank you, Rob.
To all of our coaches during my time, your support and drive to be champions are what always made me want to push for the next best thing. As an example, we started with a one-camera live video stream and evolved into a three-camera production with all the bells and whistles. While the stress level rose because of this, I knew deep down it was the best thing to promote your teams and student-athletes. I'll never forget some of our conversations about sports and families or those moments during games when we would look at each other and just know exactly what was being asked or thought of. The times during games when you would be frustrated beyond belief, but then turn towards me and make a joke or just laugh is what made the job enjoyable. Thank you to all of the coaches, past and present.
Brian Schipferling and Jeremy Crawford, both of my assistants during my time, have meant so much because they took on a workload that was unbelievable. As my family grew over the last three-plus years with the addition of my two kids, they covered for me at times when I had to go home for something or just to spend an hour or two with my family before one of the many game nights we had was always appreciated. Thank you both.
We always joked every year during the initial student staff meeting because we needed such a massive room to hold all of us. There are very few athletic communications departments around the country at our level that can honestly say they have nearly 30 student workers. First, thank you to the university for allowing us to give students the chance to work in athletics and give them an opportunity. Secondly, a huge thank you to all of the student workers past and present that have put in tireless hours to cover our teams, student-athletes and coaches in the oddest of times and the best and worst of weather conditions. There were many days where we worked in the sun with beautiful 70-degree temperatures, but there were also times when we operated in less than ideal conditions of snow, rain and freezing temperatures. I very rarely ever heard a complaint because I know they care about Concordia and the product we were trying to produce. Without the army of student workers I had and to those I leave behind we would have never been able to accomplish what we have without you. Thank you.
A lot of what we were able to accomplish was because of the committed student-athletes we covered over the years. Their efforts made our job easier because they came together as a team to win championships and covering championship-caliber teams was the most enjoyable part of the job.
I would have never been able to dream big and accomplish so many things with the support of my wife. She knew that I never felt like I worked a day during my nine years at CUW because I loved the job so much. She would put up with my late-night conversations after games more times than not because I loved the job so much and wanted to talk about everything that happened. I knew she just wanted to go to bed, but she was always by my side in my quest to develop the best athletic communications department in the country. She would bring our kids to my games from time to time and those moments were always special because she knew to mesh family and work was difficult, but we always got it done. Her support and willingness to put our kids to bed without me on numerous occasions didn't go unnoticed and I love her for that. Thank you, Lindsay.
I'll miss the work and the people as I move on, but the time has come for a career change to better support my family and our time together as my children grow. Thank you to everyone who has been by my side at CUW. As we say at CUW, once a Falcon, always a Falcon.
