»RELATED: Coach apologizes for offensive email
On Thursday night, Schneider stressed the Vikings’ program is getting the same Schneider name from Northmont. But it’s not getting the same coach.
Credit: Handout
Credit: Handout
“When something like this happens to you it changes you as a person,” Schneider said. “I’m nowhere near the guy I was when I coached at Northmont. I still have the passion for the sport. But I’ve made a lot of changes in my life. I’m much more religious than I was. I was religious before, but my relationship with God is a lot stronger now. When it happens you kind of step back and ask why did this happen? What’s God trying to tell me? What changes do I need to make in my life? This coach is now going to be a much more positive coach.”
Schneider said he applied for about 150 coaching jobs in Ohio and out of state. He received a handful of interview requests. In 2016, Fenwick High School hired Schneider as its athletic director. Parental backlash led Fenwick officials to rescind the job offer.
There was no such concern at Miamisburg, according to athletic director Jason Osborne.
“We looked at it and Lance took all the necessary steps to restore his career. That’s what we went by,” Osborne said. “We’re super excited about the next chapter of our program.”
Schneider’s coaching experience in the Greater Western Ohio Conference was attractive to Miamisburg. Both Miamisburg and Northmont are members of the GWOC but in different divisions. That Miamisburg and Northmont are similar in size was also a plus.
Schneider takes over for Steve Channell, who resigned in December after seven seasons citing "philosophical differences."
The board vote was 3-0 with two members abstaining for ethical reasons. Danielle Kuehnle’s husband is the head lacrosse coach and Chris Amsler is a member of the football staff. Miamisburg Supt. Dr. David Vail said board members with personal connections to athletics do not vote on coaching contracts to avoid potential conflicts of interest.
“I can, without hesitation or reservation, report that had they been allowed to vote it would have been a 5-0 vote,” Dr. Vail said via email.
Schneider went 107-63 in 16 seasons at Northmont with eight GWOC division titles and eight Division I playoff appearances. Schneider played his high school football at Wayne after his father accepted the Warriors’ coaching position when Schneider was a freshman at Miamisburg.
Schneider, who will also teach at Miamisburg, said he was hired at Miamisburg four years to the day that his situation at Northmont arose.
“That right there was a sign from above this was meant to happen,” Schneider said. “I’m really grateful for the Miamisburg administration, school board and all those people who were willing to say the guy deserves a second chance.”
Schneider said he stands by his record of attendance, work ethic and personnel evaluations at Northmont. But he also knows there will always be critics.
“I’m sure there are going to be detractors. … Until people get to know me they’re going to say we want that guy? But that guy is dead. He doesn’t exist anymore. This coach is going to be a much more positive individual,” Schneider said.
“I started getting to the point where didn’t think it would ever happen. When I saw this opportunity, in my heart I thought this was it. If this didn’t happen here I didn’t think it ever would. Thank God He was on my side … I’ve realized what God was trying to teach me and not to make those mistakes again. That’s where I’m at. I’m a better person because (this happened). And I’ll be a better coach.”
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