Steve Schultz lives in Fargo with his wife and their five children, ranging in age from 15 to 6. Originally from Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, Steve has been a lifelong baseball fan. “If there’s a baseball-themed movie out there, I’ve probably watched it,” he says. His favorite team has always been the Minnesota Twins, and Kirby Puckett holds a special place in his heart as his all-time favorite player. Steve’s love for the game began as a child playing Babe Ruth baseball, and as an adult, he continued playing in church league softball for eight years—until coaching youth baseball captured his passion. Coaching quickly became one of his favorite parts of adulthood.

When it comes to coaching, Steve emphasizes fun first. “I always tell parents at the beginning of the season that my focus is on having fun playing the game. It is a game, after all, and if you’re not having fun, why are you even playing?” He acknowledges the excitement of winning but reminds players—and parents—that mistakes are part of the process, especially for 11- to 13-year-olds still developing coordination. Steve believes that fun and skill development feed each other. “If you’re having fun, you’ll play better baseball. And if you’re playing better baseball, you’ll have more fun. It’s a never-ending cycle.” He also teaches the realities of baseball, explaining that even getting a hit 30% of the time is extraordinary. “Any batter with a .300 average is Hall of Fame material. If we applied that logic to school grades, we’d all have Fs!” Above all, he stresses resilience: the hardest part of baseball is forgetting mistakes—and they will happen. For Steve, success isn’t measured solely by wins and losses; it’s measured by how many players return the next season. “If I had 13 players and 12 come back, my record is 12–1.”

Creating a positive team culture is just as important to Steve as teaching baseball skills. He emphasizes fun both on and off the field, finishing practices with his famous tic-tac-toe races. Team bonding extends beyond practice, with outings like movie nights, RedHawks games, Thunder Road visits, pickleball meetups, and end-of-season pizza parties. Players also receive certificates based on their Game Changer stats, recognizing effort, sportsmanship, and improvement.

One of Steve’s biggest challenges as a coach has been managing his competitive nature. He’s learned to embrace losing, as long as the kids are enjoying the game. “Not all coaches teach that winning isn’t everything, and sometimes you have to make sure the game is played fairly,” he notes.

Steve recalls a standout moment from this past season. Two boys joined his team for the end-of-season NIT in Fargo, attending just one practice before the tournament. “I was told by a co-coach that those two boys couldn’t stop talking about how much fun they had at practice—and how the coach didn’t even yell at us once.” After the tournament, one of the boys asked Steve, “What do I need to do to be on your team next year?” Steve describes that as a moment he will never forget.

He is quick to credit his co-coaches and the parents of his players. “It’s definitely a group effort, and I am thankful and grateful for all their support.” Steve feels honored to receive recognition for his coaching and looks forward to continuing to guide young players for years to come.

Thank you, Steve, for your unwavering dedication and passion!

Honorable Mentions (12U):
Chad Stallman (Border States), Steve Hoepfner (MODbath), Andrew Scott (12U Fargo 61's Blue)

Schedule of Announcements:
5/6U: Wade Moore (Prolific Property Management)
7U: Greg Miller (Meliora Engineering)
8U: Matthew Hammer (Amundson Electric Inc)
9U: Ethan Schnabel (9U Fargo 61's Red)
10U: Mike Molstre (LEGEND Technical Services)
11U: Brian Kingsley (Zach Construction)
12U: Steve Schultz (Modbath)
13U: Wednesday, October 1
14/15U: Thursday, October 2
Program Coaching Staff of the Year: Friday, October 3rd

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