By Ryan O'Connor
Staff Writer

Jim Schubert reminisces with reporters following his final game as Central head coach on Thanksgiving Day, 2005. Schubert will coach New Hampshire against Vermont at the 53rd annual Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl on Aug. 5 at Plymouth State University. Schubert played in and was voted MVP of the 1966 Shrine Game before playing for Wake Forest in college. (Ryan O’Connor Photo)

For the first time in 16 years, Central High School will have a new head football coach when the team opens play in 2006.

Coach Jim Schubert, after winning six Division I championships, including four straight with the Little Green from 2001-04, stepped away from the sidelines following his 2005 campaign, concluding nearly two decades of unprecedented Queen City success.

“It won’t be the same without him,” said graduating senior running back Corey Wright. “He brought success to Central.”

In addition to the six titles, Schubert appeared in eight total championship games, including six straight, won 10 of 12 Turkey Bowls, and had an overall record of 121-57. His 1994 team also set the single-season mark for total points with 549.

Although he says he knew after the 2004 season, Schubert made his decision known to the public on Thanksgiving Day, the same day he coached his final game at Central. Although he lost that game to crosstown rival West High School, 13-0, it hardly diminished his amazing career, according to West head coach Travis Cote.

While the coach-to-coach handshake may be a commonplace post-game ritual, Cote said he had an additional purpose in mind following the Turkey Bowl.

“To let him know that I aspire to have similar success,” he said. “I’d love to end up doing what he’s done. At this point I’d be happy to win one state championship. He was fortunate enough to win several and that’s definitely something for me to aspire to. Success breeds success and that’s what he was able to do. I only hope I can do the same thing.”

It was not just in Division I that Schubert had an impact. According to Goffstown head coach Rob Cathcart, Schubert had a large influence on him, even in limited contact.

Cathcart said he first met Schubert at a UNH football camp.

“I would struggle just to get players there, and he would always impress me with the number of kids he brought and the relationships he had with his kids and the respect that they had for him,” said Cathcart.

In addition, Schubert lent a helping hand to the Goffstown coach who he barely knew when he pulled some strings and got the Grizzlies into the preseason Queen City Jamboree, providing Cathcart’s team with some much-needed exposure in the greater Manchester area.

Dave Philistin, who played four years under Schubert and is now on full scholarship as a linebacker for the University of Maryland, credits Schubert with his success.

“When I first came to his program, I was a punk that thought I knew everything,” he said. “Coach burst my bubble as a freshman. He taught me I had to work hard to be someone.”

Philistin, who was also recruited by Boston College, Ohio State and Michigan, said he chose Maryland because he held a very high standard for coaches after playing for Schubert, who he considers a father figure, and insisted on finding a positional coach who he could relate to, which he was only able to find at Maryland.

Wright understands Philistin’s sentiments.

“He’s not only a great coach, but he’s a great mentor as well,” he said. “He took our team and made it a family.”

According to Schubert, now is the time for him to concentrate on his own family.

“With grandchildren around and my wife, it’s about time I give something back to them,” Schubert said following the Turkey Bowl. “There’s a certain time in your life when you have to say, ‘Wait a minute. With all this running around, being in the weight room every Saturday for 15 years, it’s time to maybe share yourself with someone else.’ My wife has been very good about sharing me with the football program. Now it’s time to share myself with her.”