Tom Schleper: Varsity Head Coach
Contact: tschlepe@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Nickname: Schlep
Family: Wife, Brenda; Children, Dominick, Kasey, Jack, and Vinny
Dog: Macy (Wheaton Terrier)
Teaching Assignment: Junior High Eighth-Grade English since 1990
Education: Bachelor's Degree from Southwest State University; Master's Degree from St. Mary's University
Reason Mr. Schleper became a teacher: I love working with kids
Coaching Experience: Coaching baseball since 1988; football since 1989
High School Attended: Shakopee High School
High School Activities: Football, Basketball, Baseball
High School Awards: Captain for both basketball and baseball; All-Conference for all three sports; MVP for football and baseball; All-Region, All-Metro, All-State baseball. State tournament in baseball.
College Activities: Lettered 2 years in football and 4 years in baseball (captain, all-district, all-conference)
Favorite Baseball Memories: Lots . . . mostly the state tournament experiences - playing in every state amateur tournament from 1986 through 2001, and 2003, including 4 state championship games.
Favorite Saying: "If you think you can or think you can't, you're right!"
Favorite MLB Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite All-time Player: Rod Carew
Favorite Food: Steak off the grill in the summer time
Favorite Movie: The Sand Lot
Do you know? Mr. Schleper's sons (Dominick, Joseph, and Vincent) share the same first names as which three famous brothers who played Major League Baseball?
Ryan Niedfeldt: Assistant Varsity Coach
Contact: rniedfel@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Nickname: Niedles
Family: Wife, Kim; Son, Max
Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Middle School Sixth-Grade Physical Education Teacher - started teaching in 2001
Education: Bachelor's Degree from Luther College; Master's Degree from St. Mary's
Reason Mr. Niedfeldt became a teacher: I enjoy working with kids and I love sports!
Coaching Experience: Since 2001 in Shakopee
High School Attended: Westby High School in Wisconsin
High School Activities: Football, Basketball, Baseball
High School Awards: Captain of all three sports his senior year; First Team All-Conference in football and baseball; Second Team All-Conference in basketball; 7 varsity letters
College Activities: Football and Baseball (All-Conference pitcher his senior year)
Favorite Baseball Memory: The summer of 2007 when my town team (Chaseburg/Coon Valley Blues) won the WBA State Tournament and finished with a record of 38-14.
Favorite Coaching Memory: Getting the opportunity to coach the VFW and Legion teams in Shakopee and enjoying conversations with former players through the years. Coaching my brothers while I was in college was also a fond memory.
Favorite Saying: Play hard, get dirty, and have fun!
Favorite MLB Team: Chicago Cubs!
Favorite All-time Player: Andre "The Hawk" Dawson
Favorite Food: French Fries
Did you know? Coach Niedfeldt is a HUGE Green Bay Packer fan . . .
Eric Schmitz: JV Coach
Contact: eschmitz@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Nickname: Schmitty
Wife: Christine
Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Junior High School Ninth-Grade Physical Education Teacher - started teaching in 2004
Education: Bachelor's Degree from St. Cloud State University; Master's Degree from St. Mary's University
Reason Mr. Schmitz became a teacher: Develop students into responsible young adults - to make a difference in kids' lives.
Coaching Experience: Baseball - 9 years; basketball - 8 years; football - 4 years
High School Attended: Rocori High School in Cold Spring, MN
High School Activities: Football, Basketball, Baseball
High School Awards: Scholarship to play baseball at St. Cloud State University, HS All-Star in baseball, All-State honorable mention in baseball, captain for basketball and baseball for 2 years each
College Activities: Baseball
Favorite Baseball Memory: Playing college baseball and taking the long bus rides all over the Midwest
Favorite Coaching Memory: Finishing 3rd place in the Legion State Tournament in 2004
Favorite Saying: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
Favorite MLB Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite All-time Player: Ty Cobb
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Movie: Good Will Hunting
Did you know? Coach Schmitz is an avid deer hunter and outdoorsman
Nik Peterson: B-squad Coach (Sophomores)
Contact: npeterso@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Wife: Michelle
Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Middle School Special Education Teacher - started teaching in 2008 - started teaching in 1993.
Education: Bachelor's Degree from Northwestern College, St. Paul; Master's Degree from the University of St. Thomas; Special Ed from Minnesota State, Mankato
Reason Mr. Peterson became a teacher: I grew up with coaches that made a difference in my life and I want to give back and do the same for others.
Coaching Experience: Started coaching in 1988. I have coached football, basketball, and baseball at the high school and college levels.
High School Attended: Proctor High School
High School Activities: Football, Basketball, Baseball
High School Awards: All-conference, All-State, Academic Honors
College Activities: Football and Baseball
Favorite Baseball Memory: Watching Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, and Harmon Killebrew play at the old Met Stadium in Bloomington.
Favorite Coaching Memory: Winning State coaching girls' basketball in Edina
Favorite Saying: "Never, never, never, quit." - Winston Churchill
Favorite MLB Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite All-time Player: Rod Carew
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Movied: Field of Dreams and *51
Rob Wagener: Freshmen Coach
Contact: rwagener@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Family: Wife, Jessica; Dog, Rosy
Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Junior High School Ninth-Grade Social Studies Teacher - started teaching in 2003
Education: Bachelor's Degree from Hamline University
Reason Mr. Wagener became a teacher: Seeing growth in students/athletes
Coaching Experience: 2005-2006 assistant varsity baseball coach at Roseville; 2007 7th grade coach at Shakopee Junior High
High School Attended: Minneapolis South
High School Activities: Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, and Tennis
High School Awards: All-conference in all four sports; All-region/Metro in baseball
College Activities: Hockey and Baseball (captain and all-conference in baseball)
Favorite Baseball Memory: Beating Gustavus my senior year in college
Favorite Coaching Memory: Coaching against Henry Sibley in Section Finals
Favorite Saying: Practice doesn't make perfect . . . perfect practice makes perfect
Favorite MLB Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite All-time Player: Randy Bush
Favorite Food: Seafood
Favorite Movie: National Lampoon's Vacation
Josh Thom: Freshmen Coach
Contact: jthom@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Family: Wife - Mary; Daughter - Gabby; Son - Jackson
Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Senior High School Social Studies Teacher - started in 2008
Education: Bachelor's Degree from St. John's University
Reason Mr. Thom became a teacher: Mentor kids to develop well-rounded student-athletes with emphasis on student first!
Coaching Experience: JV Girls BB and Softball at Rocori High School; 9B Baseball and varsity softball at New Prague
High School Attended: Farmington High School
High School Activities: Football, Basketball, Baseball, Student Council, Leadership Club, National Honors Society
High School Awards: FHS Male Athlete of the Year in 2001
College Activities: Baseball (2005 SJU Captain)
Favorite Baseball Memory: 2008 Minnesota State Amateur Baseball Tournament Champions (Elko) and Individual All-Tournament Team Selection
Favorite Coaching Memory: Defeating #2 rated Willmar in first game of 2006 season
Favorite Sayings: "Can of Corn" and "Baseball is 90 percent half mental"
Favorite MLB Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite All-time Player: Joe Mauer
Favorite Food: Open-faced beef sandwich (Granite City)
Favorite Movies: Major League and Tommy Boy
Steve Grim: 8th Grade Coach
Contact: sgrim@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Family: Wife, Sarah; Sons Joey and Colby - and another on the way!
Teaching Assignment: Shakopee Middle School Sixth-Grade Math Teacher - started teaching in 1992
Education: Bachelor's Degree from Moorhead State; Master's Degree from St. Mary's
Reason Mr. Grim became a teacher: I enjoy working with kids and helping them learn.
Coaching Experience: 14 years with the Junior High program
High School Attended: Valley City High School in North Dakota
High School Activities: Basketball and Tennis (baseball was not offered - too much snow?!)
Favorite Baseball Memory: Lou Gehrig's speech
Favorite Coaching Memory: In 2007 when our pitcher caught a line drive to beat New Prague when they had the bases loaded!
Favorite Saying: Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.
Favorite All-time Player: Roberto Clemente
Favorite Food: Ice Cream
Favorite Movie: It's a Wonderful Life
Did you know? Coach Grim is a HUGE Washington Redskins fan . . .
Don Larsen: 8th Grade Coach
Contact: dlarsen@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Nickname: Donno
Family: Wife, Cheryl; Children, Travis and Hannah
Teaching Assignment: 4th Grade teacher at Sweeney Elementary - started teaching in 1996
Education: Bachelor's Degree from Mankato State; Master's Degree from St. Mary's
Reason Mr. Larsen became a teacher: I love working with kids
Coaching Experience: 12 years with the Junior High program
High School Attended: Shakopee High School
High School Activities: Football, Basketball, Baseball
Favorite Baseball Memory: Pitching for the first time with the Shakopee Indians Amateur team
Favorite Coaching Memory: Winning a very exciting game against New Prague in 2007
Favorite Saying: You don't need to be a great player to hustle!
Favorite MLB Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite All-time Player: Kent Hrbek
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Movie: The Wizard of Oz
Did you know? Coach Larsen is a HUGE Minnesota Vikings fan . . .
Nick Dahlen: 7th Grade Coach
Contact: ndahlen@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Family: Wife -Megan; Son - Kellen; Daughter - Kendall
Teaching Assignment: 3rd Grade teacher at Sweeney Elementary - started teaching in 2003
Education: Bachelor's Degree from Bemidji State; Master's Degree from St. Mary's University
Reason Mr. Dahlen became a teacher: Share my knowledge
Coaching Experience: Junior High Football and Baseball; 15AAA Summer Baseball Coach
High School Attended: Hayfield High School, MN
High School Activities: Football, Basketball, Baseball
Favorite Baseball Memory: 1997 Legion Season
Favorite Coaching Memory: All have been great
Favorite Saying: Practice makes permanent; perfect practice makes perfect
Favorite MLB Team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite All-time Player: Kirby Puckett
Favorite Food: Tacos
Favorite Movie: Major League
