Gary Schroeder, CMAA, receives NIAAA State Award of Merit

By J.O. Parker
 
       Gary Schroeder, CMAA (Certified Master Athletic Administrator), and now retired BGM teacher and athletic director, was recently honored with the 2023 NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) State Award of Merit.
            The award was presented to Schroeder at the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association (IHSADA) State Convention at the Hyatt Regency Coralville Hotel and Conference Center on March 24.
           Schroeder was a teacher and athletic administrator at BGM for 21 years before retiring in May 2015. He continues to serve on the IHSADA state executive board as liaison for retired athletic directors. He has been a member of the organization since 1994 and served on the state executive board since 2008.
       His duties include overseeing communication, working as the newsletter editor and serving as the assistant historian. The newsletter covers and relays pertinent information to active and retired athletic administrators with the IHSADA. 
          In addition, Schroeder serves as the BGM Hall of Pride Archivist/Curator.
Schroeder began his teaching and coaching career at Odebolt-Arthur Community Schools in Odebolt, Iowa in 1975. It was at Odebolt-Arthur that he initiated the high school volleyball program in 1979 and went on to serve as head volleyball coach through 1988.
       He then landed at the now closed Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, where he spent four years from 1989–1992 as the women’s volleyball head coach and men’s and women’s head track coach during that time.
From there, Schroeder landed at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn. where he spent one year as the associate head coach of the women’s volleyball team in 1993. He also served as director of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Volleyball Tournament.
        He joined the BGM Community School staff in 1994, where he taught health, physical education, K-12 art and served as the athletic director from 1994–2015, when he retired. During his tenure at BGM, Schroeder served as the high school head volleyball coach from 1995–97, 1999 and 2014–2017. He also served as the high school assistant volleyball coach from 2008–2013 and was the junior high volleyball coach in 2007.
       As the BGM athletic director locally, Schroeder designed and implemented a Hall of Pride at the school to recognize any students who were a state qualifier in any activity. He continues to serve as the BGM Hall of Pride Archivist/Curator.
    “I was nominated by my peers on the executive committee and I am honored and humbled to be recognized with this state award of merit,” said Schroeder.