Schuman Dedication

Coach Howard Schuman

There are some people who are just legends who do great things. I was very proud to be a part of a high school that has a long lasting history and tremendous teachers who have all had a great impact on me. But if you ask any alumnus who came from that school, especially the early years on, they would probably say that some of these teachers were legends in themselves. They were true to form, masters of education. One of those great legends was Mr. Howard Schuman.

Mr. Schuman was a physical education teacher and head track coach at Saddle Brook High School for over 30 years. I had him for two years of middle school and all four years of high school, and I also ran with him in cross country briefly in high school, just to say I've been coached some way by Mr. Schuman. How could you go to Saddle Brook High School and NOT get coached by him?!

Mr. Schuman was enthusiastic and spirited. He was very proud to be a "falcon" and worked his team hard. His track and cross country teams were the largest in our school, next to football. People lined up out the door to be coached by the legendary Mr. Schuman. He produced some of the greatest athletes for 30 years, and every morning after some student made the morning announcements, we all awaited the voice of Mr. Schuman. He would get on that microphone and hound away at the results of the last track meet, proudly announcing EVERY SINGLE one of his athletes and the progress they made and the results of their meet. He did not miss ONE!

He took pride in his athletes which made the students take pride in them as well. His enthusiasm was contagious. But he taught respect above all else, not only on the track but in the gym in class. He had no problem stopping everything we were doing in class and talk 20 minutes of the class about keeping respect for one another. That's a true educator.

Coach Schuman coached the Saddle Brook High School track team from 1974 to 2007 with 100 county and state championships, producing some of the greatest athletes.

I interviewed Mr. Schuman when he retired from Saddle Brook High School in 2007. By then he had already 100 league, county, and state championships and inducted into the NJ COaches Hall of Fame in 2000. It was an honor to sit down with him and get to know him personally and hear the advice and the insight of Mr. Schuman as a teacher, as a coach, as a father, and as a person. He heard it in his voice how proud he was to be a part of his school. He gave so much to his students, to his athletes, to the school itself. Seven years after his retirement, it was time for the school to give back to Mr. Schuman.

Over the course of the last few years, the high school had construction done which included a brand new track for the school. Saddle Brook High School dedicated the track to Coach Howard Schuman in honor of his great success. It truly was an honor well earned and deserved. I am sure the entire town was in agreement and probably have talked about it for the last few years since the track was re-established.

 At the ceremony, there were students and athletes as well as faculty from old to new who attended to honor the coach. Speakers included an athlete from the class of '74 and the class of '87, another of the physical education teachers who worked with him for 30 years, Board of Education president, and then of course a speech from the coach himself. He was greeted by a standing ovation and he was thrilled and said that to be greeted with a standing ovation from the town he lived in for 38 years, there was "nothing better."

In attendance were his son which he thanked by saying "I'm so fortunate that my children, who are no longer children any more, were the best possible children I could ever have. I thank them and I love them very much." As his son Dave said, the definition of the word coach should be followed by his name. Congratulations Mr. Schuman, and thank you for your many years of Saddle Brook spririt, and your dedication to US the students! (BOWS)

Yours in service,
MASTER A TRENTO