Mid-Valley Sports

ALBANY - Gary Schmid has served as a freshman head volleyball coach. He's volleyed as a junior varsity head coach. He's even taken some digs as a varsity assistant.

Next fall, he'll be hoping for an ace as the head coach at South Albany High School.

"He's perhaps the most positive young man I've ever met," said long-time head coach and South Albany athletic director Steve Pensinger. "He knows the program, is excited and ready to go."

The feeling is mutual.

Schmid is anxious to get to work in his first varsity head coaching position. He's already signed the team for a conditioning camp with Linn-Benton Community College coach Jaimie Frazier, and is searching for a team building camp this summer.

At 26, he brings a youthful enthusiasm to a program looking to rebuild. Schmid believes he has the athletes to put South Albany back on the map.

"Judging by the amount of talent we had in our first meeting, I'd say we have a lot of potential," Schmid said. "We have a lot of good athletes, they're driven and they want to see the program turned around."

Schmid's volleyball experience comes from childhood pickup games along the beaches of southern California. He never ventured onto the professional circuits, but it seemed that if there was a game going, he was trying to be a part of it.

After graduating from Salem Academy, Schmid enrolled at Western Baptist College before starting the Living Faith Community Church in Albany with his wife, Sarah.

The church's main focus is working with young adults and children.

"It's going really well," Schmid said. "It's been a real good, positive thing."

The fall won't be Schmid's first appearance at South. Last season he helped out with the volleyball program under Ryan Case, and in the spring he helped coach track.