UAB hires ex-Jesuit coach as assistant

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published May 3, 2005

TAMPA - Bill Schmitz, who resigned last week after two seasons at Jesuit, has accepted an offer to be the receivers coach at Alabama-Birmingham. The chance to work with his son, Matt, and mentor Watson Brown, UAB's head coach, were the overriding factors in his decision, he said.

"I have been approached by other colleges, but this is the only opportunity I've listened to," Schmitz said.

"It's unique because of the people involved."

Schmitz went 14-7 with the Tigers, leading them to a 9-3 finish last fall and the Class 3A quarterfinals. Before arriving at Jesuit, he had coached at Division I-AA Austin Peay and has 23 years experience as an assistant at Columbia, Cincinnati, Rice, Vanderbilt and Eastern Michigan.

In 1983, Brown gave Schmitz his first college coaching position at Cincinnati. A year later, he worked with Brown at Rice and from 1988-90 was Brown's offensive coordinator at Vanderbilt.

"He's the one person I've sought advice from more than any other individual in coaching," Schmitz said.

Schmitz's position at UAB has not been determined. His son, a graduate assistant, coaches tight ends. Jesuit has replaced Schmitz with longtime assistant Joseph Ross.

"He is an outstanding individual," Schmitz said. "He's very qualified to be the football coach and will keep the continuity. The players are very excited."

[Last modified May 3, 2005, 01:18:22]