Routine has always been important for former Ball State University football coach Paul Schudel. But he is willing to make a trip to Muncie to join the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame.
Schudel compiled a 68-40-4 record from 1985-94 at Ball State and is now the offensive line coach of Division III Albion College in Michigan. Schudel's 60 wins at Ball State rank second all-time behind John Magnabosco's 68. Magnabosco is a charter member in the Hall of Fame and will be joined in the Hall of Fame by Schudel on Friday.
For the 64-year-old Schudel, the players and routine keep him coaching, even as people ask him if he will become the next Joe Paterno.
"It's the kids that keep you in it," Schudel said. "I don't know what else to do to keep busy."
Schudel promises he will quit before he reaches Pennsylvania State University's Paterno, who is 82.
Routines are still a part of Schudel's coaching, former quarterback Mike Neu said. When he heard of Schudel's induction, he was in Michigan on a scouting trip for the New Orleans Saints. He paid a surprise visit to Albion to congratulate his old coach.
"I didn't catch him in his office," Neu said. "One of the other coaches told me he always bikes home after the morning meeting. He always had a routine."
Neu wasn't able to catch up with Schudel before he had to continue toward Western Michigan University, but left him a note in his bike helmet.
"It's a great honor and well deserved," Neu said.
Since leaving Muncie, Schudel was the offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois, the offensive line coach at the University of Virginia and head coach at Central Connecticut State University. At Central Connecticut, Schudel had a 10-21 record in three seasons.
"You make those career moves and hope it works for the best," Schudel said. "But circumstances have sent me back here."
Schudel said he is happy to be at a school with such strong academics. During his time at Ball State, Schudel started the athlete support system for academics and had six players named Academic All-Americans a total of 11 times.
Former Ball State coach and current Indiana University coach Bill Lynch said Schudel stressed academics for his teams.
"He taught everyone around him there were other things that are important in life," Lynch said. "He was an outstanding football coach, but he was also a great person."
Lynch was the Cardinals' offensive coordinator from 1990-92 and then succeeded Schudel in 1995.
During his time at Ball State, Lynch said he was able to learn a lot from Schudel.
"He had an impact on everyone who played for him and coached for him," Lynch said. "He was an outstanding football coach and a great ambassador for the university."
That affect was felt by Neu, even when he was redshirting. Neu said before practice, every Cardinal would walk down "Concentration Lane" to get in the proper mindset with their chinstrap buckled.
"He ran a tight ship," Neu said. "He expected a lot of things out of you and that you practice with the same intensity as you played."
Neu, a fellow member of the Hall of Fame, is also on the Schudel coaching tree. He was the coach of the New Orleans VooDoo, an Arena Football League team, from 2004-08 until the team and league suspended operations.
Former Cardinal and NFL running back Bernie Parmalee has also gotten into the coaching game at the University of Notre Dame, where he is the tight ends coach.
"Part of your responsibility is to coach coaches," Schudel said. "I learned that from [legendary University of Michigan coach] Bo Schembechler."
Schudel spent 10 years under Schembechler in Ann Arbor, Mich., before coming to Muncie. Like Schembechler, Schudel's Mid-American Conference roots go back to Miami University, where he played three seasons and was a graduate assistant.
When Schudel arrived in Muncie in December of 1984, he inherited a program that had fallen on hard times. The team hadn't won a MAC title since 1978 and had lost 13 of its last 19 games. Schudel built the program back slowly, finishing with a 4-7 record in his first season and then guiding the Cardinals to a 6-5 record in his second year.
"Ball State is very near and dear to my heart," Schudel said. "So many good things happened while I was there to get the program back on track."
Under the direction of Schudel, the Cardinals had a powerful running attack that produced five 1,000 yard rushers. Parmalee also broke the 21-year old career rushing mark with 3,483 yards. The mark has since been broken, but Neu remembers running a run-based offense at Ball State.
"We were going to pound it at you," Neu said. "Establishing the ground game was something that was consistent."
Four years into his time at Ball State, Schudel led the team to the California Raisin Bowl, their first Division IA bowl game. Schudel's best season came in 1993 when Ball State had an 8-3-1 record and a bid to the Las Vegas Bowl against Utah State University. Schudel led the team to a 7-0-1 MAC record and was named MAC Coach of the Year. Schudel also won the award in 1989 when he won his first conference title.
This season Brady Hoke became the first Ball State coach to be named MAC Coach of the year since Schudel in 1993. Schudel said he tried to bring Hoke back to Muncie during his tenure, but Hoke returned to Michigan.
"I think that worked out pretty well for him," Schudel said.
Schudel said he follows the Cardinals every year and was happy to see them back at the top of the MAC this season.
"The success was a long time coming," Schudel said. "It was a shame to end the way it did."
Lynch said it is fitting that Schudel will be inducted to the Hall of Fame with one of his former players, kicker Kenny Stucker. Schudel said he often tells parents on the recruiting trail that he feels like he has 110 teenage sons.
"The biggest thing I've always enjoyed is the associations with the players," Schudel said. "Those are things that keep you going in the game."
Schudel's "sons" love their coach right back.
"I love him like a father," Neu said. "I appreciate every time I get to shake his hand and tell him thanks."
Career highlights
- Played at MAC school, Miami University
- Current offensive line coach at Albion College, a Division III school
- Coached at Ball State from 1985-94
- Compiled a 68-40-4 record
- Since leaving Muncie, Schudel was the offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois, the offensive line coach at the University of Virginia and head coach at Central Connecticut State University.
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