THE PENNANT PLAYER PROFILE
By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's only been the last couple of years that Washburn University senior quarterback Mitch Schurig decided for sure that he wanted to coach when his playing days are done.
"That's probably when I figured, 'You know what, I'll have an education degree, I love football, I like basketball and all those sports, so why not try to continue to coach and be a part of the game?' '' Schurig said.
Washburn senior quarterback Mitch Schurig plans to follow his father, Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig, into the coaching field after completing his senior season. [Washburn Athletics]
But even Mitch knows that decision was probably a given, considering the fact that he has spent his entire life as the son of a coach -- Ichabod head coach Craig Schurig.
"The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree,'' Mitch Schurig said. "It was probably inevitable but I love the game, so I'd love to share my knowledge with the young kids.''
There's not a concrete plan in place, but Mitch plans to be Coach Schurig next fall.
"Life will happen come spring of 2022, but I've got an education degree, so I have that as a background to go teach and coach at the high school level or coach at the collegiate level,'' said Schurig, who played football and basketball at Washburn Rural. "I'd like to do college, but I enjoy high school football and those kids, and they're fun to work with, so I'd be fine doing that, too.''
Schurig, who has passed for 4,223 yards and 38 touchdowns at Washburn, was just 4 years old when Craig Schurig took over as WU's head coach and said he's learned a lot from the winningest football coach in school history, both as a coach and a person.
"Separating work and family, I think he does that better anybody I've met, just being able to separate the bad that happens at your work and being able to continue to be a great person at home,'' Mitch Schurig said. "And then just being consistent with your craft and how you operate and your routine and all of that.
"He always tries to be positive and have that glass-half-full mentality.''
Craig Schurig said he tried to stay out of his son's career choice.
"I don't think I pushed him either way,'' Craig said. "I just think when you're a coach's son or a son of anyone doing something, you just kind of observe and see if that's something you're interested in. And he's always had a flavor for knowing the techniques of things and he just seems to have a knack for coaching.
"I think he has that itch to coach, but you can also tell like in our camps or whatever, he enjoys working with kids.''
And although Craig Schurig admits to being far from impartial, he thinks Mitch has the potential to be a successful coach.
"What I see in Mitchell is I see him as really patient,'' Craig said. "He's very competitive, but he's really patient and calm and I think he has poise. He's not a hot head, he doesn't lose it and he's able to maintain his emotions pretty good. Obviously you also have to have a competitive work ethic and he has that.
"I think those attributes are pretty good to have as a coach.''
