Kee baseball coach Schultz retires as national wins leader

Lansing Kee baseball coach Gene Schultz has retired, the IAHSAA announced Tuesday morning.

Schultz leads the nation with more than 1,750 career wins, including 1,578 during the summer seasons. He guided the Kee Hawks to nine state titles, which is tied for first all-time with Davenport Assumption, who won the 2014 3A crown.

'He has shown what a good quality program looks like,” Kee Athletics Director Chad Steckel said. 'He has shown what the program is capable of.”

The record number of wins is not padded by topping small-school programs. The Kee Hawks took on teams from all classes. The 23-17 record of his final season included at least one win over a 4A, 3A and 2A opponent.

'They didn't shy away from anybody,” Steckel said. 'it speaks volumes in the confidence he had and the confidence he had in his players.

Schultz leaves some gigantic shoes to fill. The search will begin to replace the leader of one of the storied programs in the state.

'It's a very well established program and has very high expectations,” Steckel said. 'The person who comes in will have those same expectations.

The record number of wins is not padded by topping small-school programs. The Kee Hawks took on teams from all classes. The 23-17 record of his final season included at least one win over a 4A, 3A and 2A opponent.

'They didn't shy away from anybody,” Steckel said. 'it speaks volumes in the confidence he had and the confidence he had in his players.

Schultz leaves some gigantic shoes to fill. The search will begin to replace the leader of one of the storied programs in the state.

'It's a very well established program and has very high expectations,” Steckel said. 'The person who comes in will have those same expectations.