Longtime Baldwin cross country coaches bid farewell

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, December 21, 2017 | 10:33 PM

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Between them, they have 50 years of esteemed coaching experience in the Baldwin cross country program.

But Baldwin's co-head coaches Rich Wright, who began in 1992, and Bonita “Bunny” Schmidt, who started in 1994, have decided it's time to step aside from their unique dual role.

“I'm retiring to spend more time with my family,” Wright said. “I will miss the athletes who have been the drive and inspiration each season.”

Schmidt, who is a cancer survivor, retired from a nursing career at Mercy and St. Clair hospitals in 2010. She has a 27-year history with breast cancer, and was diagnosed with bone cancer several years ago.

Schmidt, like Wright, is looking forward to spending more time with family.

“Until seven years ago when I had to retire from my primary job due to medical reasons, I was a nurse for 39 years,” Schmidt said. “I worked steady night turn and this shift helped me to raise my sons and also allowed me to coach.

“I would like to spend more time with my family and five grandchildren. Although I am not an advocate of quitting for the sake of quitting, I am just moving on. I have some goals I can consider for my future. I do respect that there may be a new regime waiting to coach Baldwin's cross country teams; just because its new doesn't mean its wrong.”

Wright, who worked at Bettis Atomic Plant in West Mifflin for 34 ¹⁄₂ years, and his wife Kathy have purple and white in their veins. Kathy taught in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District for 34 years, and their two sons are Baldwin graduates.

A fateful day in 1986 when the Wright family was involved in a serious automobile accident actually launched Wright's coaching career.

“After our tragic accident, Kathy and I nearly died; and it was really rough for multiple years — I came back as a different man,” Wright said. “Coaching cross country and track was Kathy's idea and push.”

Wright, who had been involved in the intramural program at Baldwin, started out as a volunteer in 1987 before accepting the cross-country coaching position in 1992.

Wright and Schmidt promoted a “family atmosphere” within the Baldwin cross country program.

“Our basic philosophy was to help each athlete gain confidence in himself or herself, and to unify the athletes as a team,” Wright said.

During Wright's and Schmidt's tenure, Baldwin won one WPIAL team title in both cross country and track, in addition to having six runner-up finishes in team competition. Baldwin also has had 18 athletes or relay units win WPIAL championships.

At the state level, there have been five state champions and four runner-up finishes.

“I'm so grateful to all the athletes, their families and the great people at Baldwin,” Wright said.

Schmidt and Wright take great pride in having developed and maintained a strong “running community” network that began more than a quarter of a century ago.

“The best highlights are seeing our athletes inducted into the hall of fame at Baldwin for their stellar achievements,” Schmidt said.

Wright doesn't plan to give up running. He is a member of the United States Running Streak Association, a select group of 787 people from around the country who run at least one mile per day — every day.

“I always run two to five miles,” Wright said.

Wright is almost halfway through his 27th year of logging at least one mile daily; his streak ranks in the top 70 nationally.

He celebrated his birthday on Dec. 18 — the 10,000th day of his streak.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin