Faribault Bethlehem Academy Activities Director Ed Friesen announced Tuesday an interim head coach has been chosen to lead the Cardinal volleyball program.  Timothy "Tater" Schmitz will be the interim coach.  Schmitz was a varsity assistant under former Head Coach Franz Boelter,  Boelter's contract was not renewed for this season after the Cardinals placed third in last year's MSHSL State Volleyball Tournament.

Boelter announced recently he accepted a varsity assistant and junior varsity coaching position at New Prague this fall.  I spoke with Schmitz at the Rice County Fair and he told me he did not apply for the head coaching position but he didn't want to see the Bethlehem Academy players without a coach so he agreed to take on the duties on an interim basis.

Schmitz was an assistant coach at Faribault High School from 2014-2016 and has coached JO volleyball since 2013.  He was the Club Falcons Director for two years.

According to Friesen's news release concerning the announcement in addition to his coaching experience, "Mr. Schmitz played competitively for over 15 years."

Schmitz told KDHL he is looking forward to the season and said the Cardinals will be very young with some "excellent players" learning the game at the varsity level.

Schmitz said, "If we can survive our tough non-conference scheduled we will be okay."

Bethlehem Academy goes into the 2018 campaign with a 147 Gopher Conference match winning streak.  Perennial power Hayfield enters the conference this season and Waterville-Elysian-Morristown should be a force with one of the top Cardinal players from last year transferring there.

2017 Bethlehem Academy Volleyball Coach Timothy Schmitz Facing Former Head Coach Franz Boelter Following Match Last Season. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
2017 Bethlehem Academy Volleyball Coach Timothy Schmitz Facing Former Head Coach Franz Boelter Following Match Last Season. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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