Schaly remembered by many as veteran coach laid to rest

Love and appreciation could be felt everywhere.

Hundreds of family, friends and former Marietta College baseball players gathered on Monday, March 21, to say goodbye to Hall of Fame coach Don Schaly. Schaly, who died on March 9, 2005, after a short fight with cancer, was buried Monday in his pinstripes.

Former Pioneer players—ranging from the 1960s to the 2000s—started gathering in Marietta on Sunday for Schaly's viewing and many remained in town until Monday afternoon as the College hosted the family's memorial gathering on Fenton Court.

Approximately 300 attended the Ol' Man's funeral at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Marietta.

"He meant so much to so many people," said Mike Menke, a 2001 graduate. "However, he'd be mad at us because we're running late for his funeral."

Kris Buirley, also a 2001 graduate, added, ?He'll probably expect us to run because we're late."

Schaly, who turned Marietta College into a national power during his 40 years with the Etta Express, died March 9, 2005, at Venice (Fla.) Regional Medical Center.

Schaly, 67, was in Florida with his wife, Sue, to watch the Pioneers on their spring trip. Schaly was also there to watch his son's teams—Ashland University (John) and Thiel College (Joe)—and spend time with his other sons—Jim (an umpire) and Jeff (compliance officer and sports information director at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.).

Schaly, who compiled the best record in NCAA Division III history at 1,442-329, retired after the 2003 season. He coached more than 600 baseball players and his accomplishments are legendary. Since his retirement, Schaly remained visible on campus at athletic competitions and helped the baseball team behind the scenes.

Schaly guided his teams to three NCAA Division III National Championships and seven National Runner-up finishes, including the 2001 and 2002 seasons. He also won 18 Mideast Regional Championships and 27 Ohio Athletic Conference Championships, including 13 consecutive titles from 1990 to 2002. The OAC Coach of the Year Award is named after him.

On May 4, 2002, Schaly became only the third coach in NCAA Baseball history to amass 1,400 career victories, and his .814 winning percentage also ranks him as the winningest baseball coach in the NCAA (all divisions).

Schaly also gathered an outstanding collection of coaching awards during his career. In 1995, he was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame. He was named the National Coach of the Year four times (1975, 1981, 1983 and 1986), and in 2000 he was named Coach of the Century by Collegiate Baseball. Schaly was also named the OAC's Coach of the Year 17 times and the Mideast Regional Coach of the Year 21 times.

He also coached 39 players who reached some level of professional baseball, including current Los Angeles Dodgers manager Jim Tracy '78, current Minnesota Twins pitcher Terry Mulholland '85 and former Pittsburgh Pirates' great Kent Tekulve ?69. Both Tracy and Tekulve attended the funeral.

Father Dave Huffman, a friend of the Schalys and a priest at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, of Belpre, spoke of Schaly's love of God, family and baseball.

"He would hope you have learned the game of life, with its ups and downs,? Huffman said. ?In more than 40 years, he touched the lives of 600 players.?

Huffman, a 1966 Marietta College graduate, knew Coach Schaly from his time on campus.

"One day, coach asked me, 'Is baseball mentioned in the Bible?'" Huffman said. "I had to think a few minutes and tell him it was unlikely, because it didn?t come around until the 19th century, but I'd do some checking."

After some searching, Huffman told Schaly he had found evidence.

"On the very first page," he said. "In the beginning ? in the big inning."

He also noted that "Eve stole first, Adam stole second, and Rebecca took pitchers to the well."