After finishing in fifth place in the America East conference last year, the University of Maine baseball team was in need of a new face in the program to help ensure success for its 2014-15 campaign. They found that on Aug. 13 in newly acquired assistant coach, John Schiffner, who brings over 35 years of coaching experience to a coaching staff already rich in accolades and experience.
“What an opportunity to jump on this bandwagon,” Shiffner said. “This is a great opportunity for me. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve always wanted to get into Division I coaching.”
Before joining the UMaine staff, he was the manager of the storied Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). In his 22 years there, he racked up 479 career wins, the most in CCBL history. From 1978-2011, he was also the head coach of Plainfield High School’s baseball team in Connecticut, ranking sixth in head coaching wins in Connecticut high school baseball history.
He has also coached over 100 players that have made it to the major league. His experience will likely pay high dividends for the Black Bears in the coming season, and the transition Schiffner has experienced in the move to Orono has gone well.
“I’ve known Coach [Steve] Trimper for over 20 years, and assistant coach Nick Derba played for me in the Cape Cod League,” Schiffner said. “And was my assistant in the summer of 2013. The familiarity makes it very easy for me.”
Schiffner is enjoying his new job and is excited about the new bits and pieces of Division I coaching that he has yet to experience from the CCBL.
“I’ve coached Division I athletes in the Cape League, but being on a Division I staff, this is the whole package,” he said. “It’s recruiting; it’s paperwork; it’s compliance. I’ve always wanted to see what it’s like and that’s why I’m here, and I’m having a blast.”
His familiarity with the coaching staff attracted him to his new position, along with the quality players that head coach Steve Trimper had been sending him in the CCBL for years.
“There’s such a long tradition here of really good, solid baseball. Coach Trimper had been sending me players since he was in Manhattan, and every kid he sent me was a great kid, so I knew this was a great program that I wanted to become a part of,” he added.
Looking forward to the coming season, Schiffner brings a lot to the team that went 24-29 last year. In his 38th year of coaching baseball, he offers a plethora of knowledge for both the staff and the players.
“I think I bring a great deal of experience and mentorship here,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot, and I think that will help everyone here. I bring a different voice, a new voice, and it’s a voice of experience. It’s not some puppy right out of college who’s shooting from the hip, it’s the voice from a guy who’s been around a long time.”
To improve, Schiffner has been working with his new players to become more fundamentally sound on the field, which should translate well to his coaching. The UMaine baseball culture of hard work and fun is something Schiffner has appreciated right off the bat.
“We’ve been working really hard on fundamentals in the offseason, because it’s so important in this game to be fundamentally sound,” Schiffner said. “Coach Trimper runs as good of a practice as I’ve ever seen. It’s detailed, and a really good scheme. There’s hard work involved but we always have a good time, we’re enjoying each other and that’s the type of atmosphere that he’s created here. I’m just glad to be on board.”
We will have to wait until January to see what’s in store for the Black Bears this season, but there’s no denying the team has improved with its newest coaching addition in Schiffner.