My Moment with Coach Marty

Marty Schottenheimer passed away on February 8, 2021. I have fond memories of the man everyone called "Coach Marty." He was head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1989 to 1998. As sports director at ABC affiliate KTKA-TV in Topeka, Kansas, I covered KC for nine of those ten years. Two different times, the Chiefs came within one excruciating one win shy of reaching the Super Bowl by losing in the AFC championship game. 

Even though I interviewed him several times over the years, both in Arrowhead Stadium or at training camp in River Falls, Wisconsin, it was a one-on-one chat during a freezing rain storm that further cemented him as my all-time favorite NFL coach.

It was 1991. Blue Valley High School traveled south from suburban Kansas City to Topeka to face Highland Park High School in the Kansas 5A football playoffs.* It was a Friday night and since Blue Valley's quarterback was Brian Schottenheimer, Marty's only son, I thought there would be a good chance dad would be there for the big game. 

I arrived at Highland Park a bit early and the weather was n-a-s-t-y! Temperatures were in the 30s and it was raining-one of those big drops, penetrating, cold-to-the-bone kind of Kansas nights. Snow would have been so much better! As I walked up to the stadium and peered through the rain and fog to the visitor's stands on the far side of the field, I just hoped I would be able to spot him. Sure enough, there he was sitting in about the middle of the stands. He stood out as if the spotlight shined on him because he sported his neon-like Chiefs rain gear of red, yellow and white amidst a sea of fans wearing dark coats, panchos, umbrellas and whatever else they could manage to stay warm and dry. 

I climbed the stands and asked if he had two minutes to do a quick interview. He quickly and politely obliged but suggested we go under the stands so we would be out of everyone else's way. It was a heck of a lot drier under there too. Once underneath, I really only had one question for him and that was simply, "What is it like to be an NFL coach but to have no control over the on-field happenings at a high school game featuring his son?" Coach Marty said it was torture. He said he felt confident and in control while on the NFL sidelines but sitting in the stands was completely different. He had no say, no input, no control-nothing! He said he was a nervous wreck but would cheer along with all the other Blue Valley parents and students, and hope for the best. When I turned off the camera, we chatted for another moment or two and I wished him luck that night and in the Chiefs' game the following Sunday.

I will always respect Coach Marty for the class he exhibited whether in the locker room, in the national spotlight or under the rickety stands of a high school football field. Rest in peace Coach!

(Photo source: Kansas City Chiefs)

*Blue Valley went on to win the 5A state championship.