Jakob Brooks is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Skyline High School for AZpreps365.com

MESA, AZ: Anyone who has ever taken part in athletics at any level knows that a special coach can go a long way, and Skyline varsity football has one.

Skyline head coach Adam Schiermyer has taken his on-the-field teachings to the next level, and has left a lasting impression on the seniors in his program that will benefit them long after they are gone

“To be honest, coach Schiermyer is probably the best coach I’ve ever had. He doesn’t just create football players, he creates young men,” senior wide receiver Timmy Bancroft said.

“I want them to be able to attack the workforce, attack their career, whatever it is, like the way they attack practice and the games Friday nights,” Schiermyer said. “Just attack life.”

After back-to-back 5-5 seasons, Skyline finished the 2024 campaign 3-7. It was a tough, trying season that required a lot of resilience from everyone involved. 

Instilling that resilience in his players has been a focus of Schiermyer’s, and he’s built up a program that always plays hard no matter the score.

“He’s taught us to never give up, even if you’re down on the scoreboard, just keep fighting, it’s always 0-0,” senior quarterback Jake Ryne-Goins said.

“I’ve just wanted them to be tough-nosed, great kids, be resilient, have a never-give-up attitude and play through adversity. I want them to know that life isn’t easy… and that’s just the life of these seniors. Man, they’re resilient, they don’t give up,” a proud Schiermyer said.

Along with resilience, Schiermyer has also worked to establish an enhanced work ethic in his roster. Skyline often practices as early as 6 in the morning, and Schiermyer always pushes his squad to improve every day.

“We're gonna have to work hard, get coached up, take some bumps and bruises, but also give some too, just always work to get better,” Schiermyer said.

Beyond instilling a work ethic in a player, the key to creating a lasting impact is instilling a sense of pride within that work ethic. 

That’s exactly what Schiermyer has done, as the players leaving his program carry the weight of owning the responsibility of their work, and the pride to always keep going.

“He has instilled a lot of responsibility and accountability in me, and also just his drive and hard work have inspired me to always follow suit,” Bancroft said.

Schiermyer’s teachings are applicable to the growth of his players on the field, though they also go far beyond anything that could take place in a practice or a game. 

His goal is to have his players leave the program prepared for life, and able to apply his football teachings to whatever their journeys have in store for them.

“I just want them to be productive members of society. Like I said, life is hard, it’s not easy. You’re gonna have some good times, you're gonna have some bad times, no matter what everybody does,” Schiermyer said.

A special coach creates special players, and Schiermyer strives to do that. 

As Skyline’s seniors leave the football team, they’re ready to do exactly as Schiermyer has hoped: attack life.