Page 4 of Coach’s Pass (Twin Cities #1)

Coach Schmidt

When the season ended, my agent kept calling me with different contract offers.

Lake University in Minneapolis was the most generous.

Who could say no to three million a year plus incentives.

The biggest bonus? I get to coach my son and be close to my parents who could help with the girls.

They needed bonding time with family, not influencer nannies that wanted to sleep with me.

A few social media posts went viral after last season’s success. Naming me the Sexiest Silver Fox of the Year . Gosh, I’m only forty-five… is that even old enough to qualify as a silver fox?

That’s what led Maggie to divorce me—paranoia.

She became convinced I was cheating on her.

That the nannies were getting split open in the backyard by the sexy coach when she wasn’t looking.

Or that I was railing the cheer squad. Whether I was at Gulf State or on the road with the team, she couldn’t get it out of her head.

It ate her alive. I wish I could have gotten her a job with the team, but the department wouldn’t allow it.

They screamed nepotism every time I brought it up.

I’d been entirely faithful our entire marriage. Twenty-three years together, and not once did I cheat on Maggie. But it didn’t matter what I said in couple’s therapy. She was done with the rumors. Over the spotlight that destroyed our family.

Admittingly, I’ve lost my libido over the past few years.

Whether it was from stress or age? Hell if I know.

Might’ve been the root of some of Maggie’s paranoia.

And I couldn’t blame her either. It’s embarrassing to have to pop a pill because you couldn’t get a boner for your wife.

Especially when you were named the Sexiest Silver Fox of the Year .

A title like that doesn’t mean shit when you can’t fuck your wife.

I knew that I couldn’t love Maggie like she deserved. I was too absorbed in my work. The day the divorce finalized, she packed up and moved back home to New Hampshire. To be with her own parents.

One thing I could tell you—my girls and my son are my whole world. No matter how much money you have, you can’t take it with you. My kids are my legacy. The only thing that really matters in the end.

When you turn forty-five, old age hits hard. All of a sudden you wake up and your back hurts in the morning. Two glasses of pinot grigio at dinner leads to a three-day hangover. It makes you re-examine your life. What your lasting impact would be.

And if I wanted that national title on my resume, no school was better suited to win that championship than Lake University.

They had Jackson Hicks at quarterback, an absolute stud at his position, probably had the most raw talent in the entire country.

My son Austin, who is a phenomenal wide receiver, and a brutal pass defense that was number two in the country, behind mine of course.

It was a no-brainer when I signed that contract. My agent pointed out three rules that would lead to my automatic termination.

1 – No DUI’s or use of illicit substances. A single incidence would not be tolerated.

2 – No crimes of a gross misdemeanor or higher.

3 – No fraternization with the student body.

I thought to myself, what kind of coach couldn’t keep his dick in his pants for three million dollars guaranteed ?

Oh yeah… that Badger State coach a couple years back got caught screwing half the cheer squad.

Sure, cheerleaders could be quite a treat to resist, but damn.

Wouldn’t be an issue for me. Couldn’t even get hard for my ex-wife.

I signed my name on the dotted line and started packing up the house. Can’t wait to be back to Minnesota’s more forgiving summers. Anyplace would be more bearable than Mississippi’s suffocating air.

“Girls! Did you put your switches in your backpack?” I call out, packing up my laptop. “If you forget them, you are waiting until the movers come with the rest of the household goods.”

“Yes Dad!” Kay and Alicia shout in unison from the hallway.

They’re identical blonde twins. Eleven years old, rambunctious and full of mischief.

Sometimes they wore the same outfits to throw me off, but they still had their tells.

Kay would clench her right hand into a fist when she was up to no good, as if she could squeeze the guilt out through her palm.

Alicia couldn’t help but gaze slightly upwards when trying to contain a lie.

“Alright girls, let’s get in the car so we don’t miss our flight!” I say, holding the Lexus door open as they scramble inside with their backpacks. “Seatbelts too.”

“Ugh, Dad. We know,” they groan, rolling their eyes right on cue. They were only eleven, just beginning to develop their adolescent attitude. I already knew that I was going to need the lord’s almighty help when they hit sixteen.

I give our stilted beachside house one final look of goodbye. My realtor will handle the rest. I picture some na?ve couple from the Northeast looking for their slice of paradise. Falling in love with sunset views, just like Maggie and I did.

The house wouldn’t be here for too many more years until a hurricane comes through and wipes it off into the ocean.

Supposedly, it was hurricane proof, but with the warming Gulf I won’t bet my retirement on it.

Sooner or later, a record setting storm—a prophetic five-hundred-year storm would tear through here.

T he plane shook, wheels pounding against the tarmac as I rumble awake. Neck stiff from the impromptu nap.

“Dad we made it! Wake up!” The girls shout, voices full of glee.

Groggy and disorientated, I peek out the window. Good Ole MSP International. I make out the skyline of downtown Minneapolis. Right next to downtown was Lake University. My alma mater. Crazy how life had a way of pulling you back to where it all started.

The pilot spoke on the overhead, “Welcome to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Thank you for choosing Northwest Airlines. It’s always a delight serving our customers.”

We stumble off the plane into the chaos of the gate area. “Girl’s stay close,” I call out, slinging my bag over my shoulder. “Easy to get lost here.”

Alicia and Kay acknowledge me with double eye rolls.

“Your grandparents are meeting us here,” I say, glancing between them. “You haven’t seen them since Christmas. So here’s the deal—you will not be giving them attitude. Understood?”

Alicia crosses her arms. Kay lets out grudging sigh. But both of them nod, albeit reluctantly. It’s the small victories that were important as a parent and a coach. Not every win is flashy. One small step closer to winning the long game.

“Excellent.” I let out a deep breath, scanning the terminal for the baggage claim signs. “Now let’s grab our bags and find your grandparents before they get their car towed.”

Kay groans. “Again?”

I smirk. “Let’s just say your grandpa still thinks the no-parking signs are a suggestion . ”

Alicia rolls her eyes. “And Grandma still thinks she can change him.”

“Some battles are never won,” I sigh, stepping onto the escalator.

Grabbing our bags from the carousel, we made it out to the passenger pick-up. And there they are in their blue Outback, hazard lights blinking, shamelessly holding up traffic.

My father waves at us frantically from behind the wheel. “Hey dad!” I gave him a warm hug and then my mother.

“Welcome home,” she whispers with her soft aging voice.

“How are my favorite granddaughters doing?” their Grandpa smiles, swooping in for a hug with his stretched arms. “Did you behave for your father on the flight?”

Before they could answer, he scoops them both up from the ground with his big arms, Alicia and Key burst into giggles, their earlier attitude swept away.

“Grandpa! We aren’t babies anymore!” they squeal.

A moment like this is priceless. Almost made me forget about the divorce.

My parents are the best people I know. Constantly fostering puppies until they’re adopted, volunteering for shifts to cradle the premature babies born at the University.

Donating to their local food bank in South Minneapolis.

Honestly, I trust my parents more with the twins than I did myself.

“I told the athletic director that I would meet him this evening. But I’ll be back later for dinner. Girls be good!” I call out, making my way over to the rental counter. Last thing I want is to be late to meet Mr. Hoheisal—Lake U’s athletic director. First impressions carry a lot of weight.

The girls grin as I glance back to check on them. I know my parents are in for a fun time once those two start showing their true colors. But they could handle it.

I start up the rental and merge onto I-35.

Traffic dying down pretty decently, but not scant by any measure.

The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul grow denser every year.

Two competing downtown skylines. Minneapolis claims the professional football team, while St. Paul clings tight to their hockey pride.

Turning off the freeway, I finally roll onto campus, taking in the brand new sign: Welcome to Lake University.

Home of the Walleyes. A gigantic fish stood below the blue and yellow sign.

The walleye is the official mascot of Lake University and the state fish of Minnesota.

Hard to beat the flavor of some beer-battered walleye.

Instinctively licking my lips, just thinking about an old-fashioned Minnesotan fish fry.

Campus is massive, I would have ended up in the student union if I didn’t have Google Maps.

Glass research buildings sprawl in every direction, new apartment buildings climbing twenty stories high.

The place has exploded with new growth since I was a student here.

Back in the day there were actual alfalfa fields right next to campus.

When Austin came to tour the campus, Maggie was the one who went with him. I should have been there too. Showed him around my old stomping grounds. But I was too focused on my career. Sure, it paid off in huge dividends. But what kind of price do you put on missing the moments that matter?

At last, I make to the Athletic Department administrative building. Park in the spot labeled Head Coach Schmidt. Damn. I get my own parking space?

The AD admin building sat right across the avenue from the crown jewel of campus.

The newest D1 stadium in the country, The Fish House .

A stunning, glass-wrapped fishbowl of a structure.

State-of-the-art with a retractable roof, finished just two years ago.

Undeniably, the most impressive in the Big Twenty.

It could hold 90,000 roaring Walleye fans on an average Saturday.

Full capacity? 98,000. An endless sea of blue and gold.

It’s exactly what Minnesota needed to bring home a national championship. Now it’s my job to make that happen.

I take moment to suck it all in. I’m the new face of this program. The one guy they are counting on to bring home a title. No pressure, right? I step through the sliding glass doors, greeting me is Mr. James Hoheisal, the school’s athletic director and one of the most influential men on campus.

He strides forward, hand extended. “Welcome home Coach. What do you think of all the updates on campus?”

“It’s incredible. This stadium is an architectural marvel… World-class,” I mumble, my eyes still drawn to the glass dome across the street. “In person it just takes on a different aura.”

“Excellent, that’s what we are shooting for.

Nothing like home-field advantage. We need every possible yard in this damn conference,” Mr. Hoheisal chuckles, motioning me to follow him.

“Right this way. Your office is through this corridor. Your secretary is Janet. Great worker. Have heard nothing except great things about her. She should be in tomorrow morning to meet you.”

Wow, I got a full-time secretary? That’s a first. A big upgrade from Gulf State. There I created my own schedule and booked my own plane tickets. Lake U meant serious business. They didn’t want me distracted by anything off the field. Just to bring home the W.

“Thank you so much Mr. Hoheisal. I don’t know what to say. Everything is so impressive.”

“Please call me James. Just take a moment to settle in and please let me know if you need anything. We expect only exceptional results from your team. A four-billion-dollar stadium doesn’t pay for itself.”

“Yes sir, understood,” I reply, still in shock of everything. I have to get to work. Focus on what I do best, recruiting. It was a year long endeavor of scouting and wooing the best prospects for your team. I could at least get started on my dashboard tonight.

James hurries out the door as his cellphone rings. I take a deep breath. Letting it settle in my core. Realizing that this is all real. This isn’t some elaborate prank. I’m actually here. Sitting in a million-dollar office with my name on the door. But I still feel like an imposter.

I shake my head, clearing the fog of self-doubt. Time to get to work.