The Bennington Senior Legion baseball coach has had a big summer.
Jamie Schleifer started a new job where the folks wear orange, but also picked up his 300th career win in blue on the diamond.
“That's been going on for quite some time,” the new Fort Calhoun Activities Director said from behind his desk July 13. “Allie's been here forever it seems like, so I've gotten used to going from blue to orange pretty regularly.”
Schleifer has visited Washington County ballfields often during his years leading Post 266, but he's also thrown on FCHS gear to support Allie, his wife, who coached Pioneers basketball before stepping away from the high school game in 2020. Now, the A.D. is capping a rewarding run with the Badgers and turning to orange full time.
“I've been happy that I've been able to finish what I started over there,” Schleifer said. “It means a lot to me.”
On June 1, he went to his first Nebraska Capitol Conference meeting with former activities director Andrew Christensen. Since, he's worked through June and into July when his contract officially started.
Schleifer noted he's enjoyed the time meeting coaches and learning the names of the kids. He's also spent time “learning the ins and outs” of the office.
“There's definitely a science to it and I don't know it yet,” the baseball coach said with a smile.
He's learning different computer programs, new FCHS-specific organizational efforts and finding out his role at school board meetings.
“Learning how all of those are run has been eye-opening as well,” Schleifer said.
Now, the Pioneers' addition is looking forward to the start of fall practices on Aug. 8 and the annual Fall Sports Kickoff event that follows shortly thereafter.
The biggest moment to date, though, was at the beginning of the summer.
“To be honest, I was really excited to just be here at the start of strength and conditioning,” Schleifer said, morning light pouring through his office window. “I think we've been averaging about 137 kids a day in here. The numbers have been great and our coaches have been great.”
