FRISCO, Texas — There’s a signal on the again of Brian Schottenheimer’s desk that reads: “A great coach can change a recreation. An important coach can change a life.”
Coming into his first season because the Dallas Cowboys head coach, Schottenheimer is not only attempting to reside as much as these phrases; he tries to paved the way his father, Marty, led 4 groups for 21 years as a head coach within the NFL.
Father’s Day has at all times been particular for Brian, not simply because he has two kids, however the bond he constructed along with his father, who handed away in 2021 from Alzheimer’s, unable to see one in every of his desires come true when Marty was named the tenth coach in Cowboys historical past.
“I do know he is proud,” Schottenheimer stated, pausing due to emotion. “I miss him … I’d inform him that I’ve used all of the life classes that he taught me, not nearly soccer. However about life and being a great man and good husband and good father and that I believe I am doing OK for myself.”
Schottenheimer has leaned into the connection between coaches and gamers in his first offseason with the Cowboys, attempting to construct a bond off the sector that may hopefully influence the on-field productiveness. He held a crawfish boil and paintball recreation on his first two days of the offseason program. There have been each day free throw taking pictures competitions — move rusher Sam Williams was named the offseason winner — and placing competitions.
His theme is “Compete Each Day.”
It is one thing he realized from his dad.
Requested if there was a second within the offseason that will be the primary story he would have informed his father, Schottenheimer pointed to his introductory press convention. He was nervous and emotional, unaware it was going to be in the primary atrium at The Star.
“After I turned the nook, I noticed the gamers, all of the gamers that have been right here, and he would know the truth that all these gamers confirmed up that I am doing it the proper manner,” Schottenheimer stated. “I am doing it via connection. I am doing it via love. I am doing it via juice and power. And that really calmed me down. It actually did.
“I used to be nervous and excited on the similar time. After I noticed all these gamers ready for me proper across the nook, it completely put me at peace.”
Schottenheimer stated he now leans on a few of his father’s mates, like Invoice Cowher, an assistant coach beneath Marty earlier than changing into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach. Invariably, he might be stopped by individuals throughout the league earlier than video games with a narrative about his father.
“I am going to have two or three totally different people come as much as me and say, ‘Excuse me, coach. Do you may have a second?’ And I do know precisely the place they are going,” Schottenheimer stated. “I drop what I am doing, as a result of I need to hear it. They are saying, ‘Your father modified my life.’ And it is his former gamers.
“He by no means received a Tremendous Bowl. He received over 200 video games within the NFL, however I’d put his legacy up with anybody that is ever coached the sport.”
