Father of Newport coach Schmitz passes away

The father of Newport head coach Matt Schmitz died Monday following an apparent suicide jump from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa, Florida.

Bill Schmitz was 59.

Schmitz had a lengthy coaching resume that included stops at Cincinnati, Rice, Vanderbilt and Eastern Michigan. He was head coach at Austin Peay from 1997 to 2002 and led the Governors to their first winning season since 1974. Matt Schmitz was the quarterback on that 2002 APSU team.

WOW! Sad news. Prayers going out to the Schmitz family.

I had seen this tweeted out yesterday but had no idea that Newport's coach was his son. That's terrible for the coach, his family, and the football program.

Condolences and prayers for his family. Hate to hear that.

Oh wow this is just terrible news.

I met Coach Schmitz (elder) over the summer and he was helping coach the Newport team. He spent almost all of his life coaching at the collegiate and high school ranks. My thoughts and prayers go out to Matt. I know him and his father were extremely close. I'm honestly at a loss of words over this news. Can't imagine what the Schmitz family is going through right now.

WOW!!! Prayers sent to the Schmitz family.

Here's a link to the story.

Florida teacher and coach jumps to his death off Sunshine Skyway bridge | Crime | Bradenton Herald