Don Schumacher graduated from the University of Idaho in 1967 with the honor of “Outstanding Physical Education Graduate”. He and his wife, Susie, moved to Anchorage, Alaska where he started his teaching and coaching career at West Anchorage High School and Robert Service High School. While in Alaska, Don obtained his Masters Degree in Education from University of Alaska at Anchorage.
After seven years in Alaska, Don moved his family to Baker City, Oregon for five years of teaching and coaching basketball. While at Baker City, Don took the Bulldogs to the state tournament twice. Following his five years there, he accepted a job at Kamiakin High School, where he has been since 1979. He is completing his 45th year in education, with 33 years spent coaching basketball.
Two of the many highlights in Don’s career included being named 4A State Coach of the Year in 1992, and in 1993 being invited to Coach the McDonalds All-Star game in Louisville, Kentucky.
Don began an instructional summer camp at Kamiakin High School for children as young as 10, teaching and stressing the basics of sound fundamental basketball, which he believes helped set the tone for the subsequent success in basketball at Kamiakin High School.
In order to help Eastern Washington high school basketball players get more attention and exposure, Don started a summer All-Star team which traveled to tournaments out of state. Several coaches in Eastern Washington helped Don broaden the scope for Eastern Washington players from many different schools. Many young players obtained scholarships to play in college as a result of this experience.
In his 33 years of coaching, Don Schumacher has accumulated a 457-272 record en route to numerous District and Regional Championships and ten appearances at the State Tournament, with his highest finish being second place in 1992. His 1993 team was rated as high as 10th in the nation and was invited and played in the prestigious Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
After 33 years of teaching and coaching, Don stopped teaching and coaching to accept the position of Athletic Director of Kamiakin High School. In his coaching career, he has been blessed with amazing students and players of the highest caliber and character. Don felt each member of each team, whether a starter or a non-starter, was equally important to the team and each player holds a special spot in Don’s heart.
Many of Don’s years as a basketball coach included coaching his own three sons, who all went on to play college basketball. He feels it was an amazing adventure and a great blessing to have shared this exciting game with his boys. Susie, his wife of 45 years, was very supportive and helpful in this long career, and presently, they are enjoying the 9 grandchildren their three sons have provided to them.
Don wants everyone to enjoy their journey, day by day.
