There’s a new coach stepping up to bat to help Haddonfield Memorial High School’s softball team round the bases.
There’s a new coach stepping up to bat to help Haddonfield Memorial High School’s softball team round the bases. The team is positioned to hit a home run with their new coach, Laura Schwartz, who is bringing passion to the field this season.
Schwartz’s journey to become head coach has been interesting.
Growing up in Atco, Schwartz had her first memories of playing softball at just 4 years old, and her father coaching her in Little League. Some would say her path was paved to carry on the family tradition of coaching, but it was not until she met her track coach and math teacher, Bob Kiessling, while attending Bishop Eustace Preparatory School that she says she met the man who inspired her to fulfill her true calling.
After high school, Schwartz, along with other runners on her high school track team, developed a close relationship with Kiessling, occasionally meeting to catch up. Kiessling eventually left Bishop Eustace to become a math teacher at HMHS and thought Schwartz would make a great addition at the school. He reached out to Schwartz, saying she would be the perfect fit to be a teacher and coach at HMHS and wanted to meet with her to talk about the opportunities she could have at Haddonfield.
‘’He was lighting a fire under me,’’ Schwartz said.
With some hesitation, Schwartz agreed to meet with Kiessling for dinner to talk about the possibilities she could have at Haddonfield in the spring of 2009. When Schwartz arrived for dinner, Kiessling was nowhere to be found. She later discovered Kiessling had passed away that morning.
His family and friends revealed he wanted her to try to become a teacher at Haddonfield and even give coaching a try, and that is exactly what she did. After applying for the position of a math teacher in Haddonfield, she was granted the position in the fall of 2009.
Although Schwartz started as a teacher, it wasn’t long before her passion for softball became a valued asset at HMHS. It is her sixth season coaching at Haddonfield. Her first year, she was a junior varsity coach, and her second to fifth years she held the position of varsity assistant coach. As of this season, Schwartz holds the title of varsity head coach with goals already set out.
‘’I wanted to make softball relevant in Haddonfield again,’’ Schwartz said. “We win state championships in other sports at HMHS … and softball doesn’t get the same pull. I want to change that.”
Schwartz has played softball for 25 years, playing at Bishop Eustace for four years and playing for Rowan University throughout her college career. After graduating college with a degree in education, doubling in education of math and science, Schwartz joined a women’s league in South Jersey to continue to play.
Schwartz hopes her love of the sport will trickle down to her players.
“My hope is that the players love this sport and the team aspect as much as I do,’’ Schwartz said. “I want that to be felt by the girls I coach.”
Schwartz believes softball will not only help the team physically but also foster lifelong friendships through comradery and the love of the game. She explained the women she played softball with in college remain some of her best friends today.
“Everyone involved in the program is committed, and I think we will have a successful season,” Schwartz said.
“She was the person I wanted, and I knew that by observing her leadership qualities, softball knowledge and caring attitude toward the girls,’’ Athletic Director Lefteris Banos said.
He explained that for years, she has had other family obligations, and with young children at home, it was difficult for her to take the role, but he had always wanted her to hold the position. He was thrilled when she said she was ready.
One of the many reasons Schwartz was on his radar was the relationships she has had with the team.
“I think she is such a great role model for the girls,’’ Banos said.
Banos said with Schwartz helping the team, the program would become more competitive and inspire the girls on the team to strive for greatness.
“We are so lucky to finally have Laura as our head coach,’’ Banos said.
