Schroeder remembered as legendary player, impactful coach

NORWALK — He was big in stature and demeanor.At 6-foot-8, John Schroeder was ahead of his time on the basketball floor at Norwalk High School in the early 1960s. A legendary player that later started an NCAA Tournament game and was an NBA Draft selection, Schroeder died on Sept. 28 in Marion at the age of 76.Known for his humble approach toward life, Schroeder wasn't much of a talker when it came to his lengthy list of athletic accomplishments.Tied together in several distinct ways, current Norwalk boys basketball coach Steve Gray found that out the hard way. Whenever he'd inquire about Schroeder's playing days, he was often met with a shrug or little to no details."So I asked Cheryl (his wife), because he wasn't going to give me any information," Gray said. "But he shared very little of that type of thing with anybody because he always wanted the focus to be on you or someone else." Not only was Schroeder also the former head basketball coach at NHS like Gray, but he was also one of Gray's first assistant coaches when he started his career in 1988 at Morral Ridgedale in Marion County."John was really good working with post players," Gray said. "He ran the weight room. And he was there all for the kids. He made my first year a lot more enjoyable because he was there to settle me down."As a senior in high school at Norwalk in 1962-63, Schroeder averaged 25.7 points and 19.1 rebounds per game, securing his place in Norwalk basketball history.His record for points scored in a tournament game (37 vs. New London, 1963) and his record for rebounds in a single game (31 vs. Ashland, 1962) both still stand 58 years later, and it only further enhances the impact Schroeder had on the program.His record for rebounds in a single season (344) also stood for 45 years. But no performance cemented his NHS Hall of Fame credentials — he was inducted in January 2016 — more than what he accomplished in late December of 1962 in a non-conference game at Ashland.Against the Arrows, Schroeder finished with an incredible 30 points and 31 rebounds, the latter which is the single-game record today. It was the only 30-point/30-rebound game in the 73-year history of the Northern Ohio League, a league which had no shortage of legendary players.With Schroeder anchoring the middle, the Truckers were 34-5 in his two years as a starter, winning the NOL in 1961-62 and narrowly missing out on a repeat title the following season.It stood as the best two-year stretch in program history for 49 years.His 733 points still put him 20th on the all-time list at Norwalk, while his 464 points in 1962-63 is the eighth-most points in a single season.He was a two-time All-NOL selection, including first team as a senior.Schroeder was also Northwest District first team and Class AA All-Ohio second team in 1962-63, making him one of just six players in Norwalk history to be named to the All-Ohio first, second or third team.After graduation, Schroeder attended NCAA Division I Ohio University on a full basketball scholarship, where he was a three-year starter and senior captain in the 1966-67 season.While at Ohio, Schroeder led the Mid-American Conference in rebounding (13.3 average in 1966-67), and his 884 career rebounds for the Bobcats ranks sixth all-time. His career average of 12.3 rebounds per game is second all-time in OU history.As a sophomore in 1964-65, Schroeder was part of an OU team that won the MAC title and lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament against Dayton by a point in the Mideast Regional.After college, Schroeder was drafted in the 13th round (140th overall) by the Seattle Supersonics in the 1967 NBA Draft. He was also selected in the ABA Draft by the Pittsburgh Pipers.Schroeder played for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots (1967-68) of the NABL and overseas in Belgium for Avanti (1968-69) before getting into coaching, which included a stint back at his alma mater.Schroeder coached the Truckers for four seasons from 1975-78, and his 30 wins currently rank him eighth all-time in program history. He was last a volunteer assistant coach for Marion Harding.All told, Schroeder spent 46 years in coaching after his playing days. Along with his wife of 53 years, he is survived by his son, John Joseph, daughter-in-law Andréa, grandchildren Sophia and Celia and a sister, Carol (Don) Wait.A celebration of his life will be held at a later date in Mackinaw City, Mich. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grand Prairie Baptist Church and Dayspring Wesleyan Church."John was one of the great people I met in my lifetime in coaching," Gray said. "He was a great Christian, and an outstanding husband and father. When he was my assistant, he was just unbelievable with kids. They had such admiration for him. It's a sad day, because we lost a really good man."