Get to know Washington Township HS football coach Schatzman
SEWELL, N.J. — Playing to a .500 record across just four games last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Washington Township High School Minutemen Football team was eager to return to the turf this season.
Led by four-year varsity head coach Mike Schatzman, the Minutemen bounced back in a big way — starting the season 4-0 for the first time since 2009 and clinching its first winning season since 2015.
“We have a great nucleus of players who are hungry to take our program to the next level,” Schatzman said. “Our senior class is filled with talent and leaders. They are dedicated on the field, in the weight room, and even in the community. They deserve nothing but success.”
Schatzman was named head coach in February 2018, succeeding former coaches Lamont Robinson and Mark Wechter after their one- and 11-year respective stints. The 2008 WTHS alumnus previously served as the Minutemen’s junior varsity head coach and running backs coach since 2011, as well as freshman head coach in 2017.
Now wrapping up his 11th year with the program, we recently sat down with Schatzman to learn more.
What is your sports background?
Mike Schatzman: Growing up, I experienced individual success, but more importantly a lot of team success. I played youth football for eight years in the Washington Township Youth Organization, and later high school football all four years. While attending WTHS, I was a varsity letter winner and team captain in both football (running back) and baseball (third baseman). I began coaching here in 2011 and graduated from Rowan University three years later with a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science. In 2015, I became a health and physical education teacher at WTHS. I have also served as the Minutemen Baseball’s assistant varsity coach for many years.
What can you attribute to the Minutemen’s success this season?
Schatzman: We’re very committed to our offseason strength and conditioning program, as we are in the weight room 12 months out of the year. We challenge players there to create a competitive atmosphere. The goal is for us to make training so difficult that practice and games become easy. Besides developing athletes, our top focus is for them to build positive relationships and team chemistry.
Who inspired you to play and coach?
Schatzman: I come from a very athletic family. Along with my mom and dad also being WTHS alumni, my uncles — Joe Cipolloni (Class of 1978) and Fred Bianculli (1983) — and cousin Brandon Schatzman (2004) all succeeded as three-sport Minutemen athletes. They influenced me to get involved with sports as a young kid.
A 1993 WTHS Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Joe played baseball at the University of Arizona. He later spent seven seasons in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, reaching as high as the Triple-A level. Fred, a 2002 WTHS Sports Hall of Fame inductee, received All-American baseball honors while at Rowan University. He once held the Profs’ single-season hits record. Looking up to Brandon growing up played a big role in wanting to play sports myself.
Schatzman: I’ve also been fortunate to play for great coaches who molded me as a person — including Charlie Doud, Mike Van Horn, and Kevin Lynch. They taught valuable lessons, such as discipline, toughness, commitment. This experience is something I want to instill in my players today.
What is the biggest life lesson you have learned as a coach?
Schatzman: Remain humble. As a leader, it’s important to give credit, not take it, and never throw your success in the face of others.
How do you encourage the team after a disappointing loss?
Schatzman: I’m a huge believer in not losing, but learning. When I took over the program, we knew there’d be some difficult times. Win, lose or draw, our focus is to improve and continue to build each day.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
Schatzman: I want to build a program based on love and not fear. And while developing football players is a priority, the most important thing is for them to succeed in life. I want my players to have the same (or even better) experience that I had. We want to take players to places they don’t think they can go themselves. If we can do all of the above, we will feel successful!
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