Steve Schneider, who has been the golf coach at Snowflake High School for 29 years, is retiring.

“The only coach we have had in golf,” noted SHS Athletic Director Kevin Standerfer.

Schneider is stepping down to take on new goals and adventures, and will be moving to Utah at the beginning of 2015.

“Steve and the Schneider family poured their heart and soul into the SHS golf program for 29 years,” said Standerfer.

Schneider is a National High School Golf Association Hall of Fame member and has been nominated multiple times for the National Golf Coach of the Year by the National High School Golf Association.

Schneider’s teams won 10 state championships and four state runner-up titles, and he has coached eight students who were individual state champions. The Lobo golf squads also have numerous 3A East Region titles and/or Division IV section championships, and have participated in more than 50 invitational championships.

Schneider was head golf coach and also coached all levels of kids from the SHS football program. He and his late wife Lashelle worked the score table at the school’s basketball games.

“Mr. Schneider was the golf coach for 29 years, which is the longest tenure of any coach in school history. His 10 state championships and four times placing as the runner-up would also place him alone as the most successful in terms of winning championships, said Snowflake School District Superintendent Hollis Merrell. “Those are accomplishments that are rare, extremely impressive and measurable.”

“What has been more impressive than all his wins and titles are the lives that he touched along the way,” said Standefer. “His fun personality and love for the games of golf and football havw touched so many athletes from not just SHS, but the entire state of Arizona.”

Standefer noted that Schneider had a profound impact on him as a young coach watching the way Schneider handled his students/athletes. “He had a way of making you laugh as he coached you up and you always left him feeling better about yourself,” said the athletic director.

Schneider’s retirement will be official when the district governing board accepts his resignation Nov. 13.

“We will never be able to measure the number of lives he touched and the impact he had for good on many student-athletes. We are grateful that many student-athletes were able to associate with such a good man. We wish him the best in his future endeavors,” said Merrell.