UMKC Hall of Fame Spotlight - Ronnie Schmitz
12/20/2008 1:00:00 PM | General, Athletics
by Dan Stroud
Former UMKC basketball guard Ronnie Schmitz still holds a vivid memory of his recruiting visit to Kansas City. He was there to meet with then head basketball coach Lee Hunt on the recommendation of his junior Olympic coach in Memphis, Tenn.
Schmitz knew Hunt as the coach that had commandeered the University of Mississippi in the Southeastern Conference.
He likened the meeting to a scene from “The Godfather” in which Schmitz sat on one end of a long table in a dimly lit hotel conference room with Hunt on the other end.
“Coach Hunt said ?Ronnie, I'm not sure if we're going to be able to offer you a scholarship. We have a couple of other players we're interested in and we're just not sure you're a Division I talent or not',” Schmitz recalled, as he attempted to muffle a snicker.
Schmitz said he had scheduled a week-long trip to visit Southern California and Cal-Santa Barbara, but cancelled his plans after the talk with Hunt.
“I let him rope me into playing at UMKC because I was afraid what he told me was true,” said Schmitz. “You could say I was young and dumb.”
It shouldn't be assumed there was even a hint of complaint in Schmitz's recount of the story. He offered nothing but praise and admiration for his former coach as they will enter the newly formed Hall of Fame together.
“It's extra special for me to go in with Coach Hunt and Stan Durwood,” Schmitz said. “They essentially started the Division I program and gave me an opportunity to play.”
“I don't believe I'd be where I am today without going to UMKC ... without playing for Coach and with some incredibly talented people.”
Schmitz said he believes that the squad Hunt put together in those early years could have played in the NCAA Tournament a couple of times had they been part of a conference.
“I don't think anybody outside the program in Kansas City fully realized the quality of athletes we had,” Schmitz said. “As an independent, it got to the point where nobody wanted to play us. We were in some ways, too good.”
Too good could describe the talent Schmitz displayed on the court during his four years as a Kangaroo. His 1,939 points are third best in UMKC basketball history.
At the start of the 2008-09 basketball season, he still ranks eighth in NCAA history in three pointers made, having sunk 378 in his career. Finally, the last Kangaroo ever to don the No. 24 jersey still ranks among the top-13 players in Division I in three point shots made as he averaged 3.38 every time he stepped onto the floor.
When he first learned of the honor, Schmitz, a self-proclaimed sports geek told his son Clay, of the same affliction, about it. The two had recently watched the National Football League Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies and the son envisioned what his father's golden bust might look like.
“I told him I wasn't sure it was going to be quite like that,” Schmitz said laughing. “He was even pondering whether they would make my head old or young!”
Schmitz said he misses the camaraderie with Jay Boster and Ray Pollard, teammates he's stayed in touch with over the years. He was best man at equipment manager Darren Kearns' wedding.
“Kansas City was a great town to play and grow in,” Schmitz said. “I was fortunate to get my education paid for and then to get a job right out of school.”
After several years in sales, Schmitz moved away from the Heartland and now resides in Phoenix, Ariz., where he works as an operations manager for a construction company.
His company's home base, and his in-laws remain in Kansas City and charity golf tournaments with friends like Harpo's owner Bob Babcock keep the UMKC alum coming back to town five to six times a year.
When offered a chance to pass along a few words of wisdom to the 2008-09 UMKC student-athletes, Schmitz had plenty to say.
“Do what you're supposed to do and take care of your grades,” a suddenly serious Schmitz replied. “Enjoy college life, but at the same time, understand that you have to respect yourselves as well as the game. You should never take any of it for granted.”
When asked why he'd never turned up in the coaching ranks, the student had one more parting shot for the master.
Starting to laugh he said, “I tried to come back and coach after a year away from the game but Coach Hunt told me no. He said there wasn't enough money in it!”
(This is the fifth of a nine-part series featuring the inaugural UMKC Athletics Hall of Fame class.)
Hall of Fame Features
- Bill Frerking - Men's Basketball- Katie Houlehan - Women's Basketball- Robert Russell - Men's Golf- Larry Scheller - Men's Soccer