A cold March wind blows upon the green and white jerseys of the lacrosse Rocks as they take the field for afternoon practice. After a few minutes of banter and lighthearted pass and catch between players, a commanding voice proclaims, “Warm-ups! All groups on the goal line.”

Immediately, everyone runs into position. After thorough stretching by the players, the same voice orders them to skill stations.

Standing in the middle of the field is a man, bundled in a thick brown coat surveying the practice. He doesn’t miss a thing. A missed goal, a bad release, incorrect footing — he catches it all. He sees the player’s mistakes and corrects them.

The players display respect for this man who serves as the main component in the steady and efficient flow of practice.

This man, head coach Pete Schroeder, is in his 16^th year at Trinity. His Rocks this year are 7-3, with wins over regional powers. Schroeder has acquired over the years effective coaching methods that his players and fellow coaches recognize.  He was inducted last year into the inaugural class of the Kentucky Lacrosse Association Hall of Fame.  

Schroeder’s involvement with lacrosse came early. “I chose to play lacrosse because I especially took a liking to the game and felt that I had some natural ability. The game was new, fast paced, physical and overall exciting to be involved with,” said Schroeder, whose Rocks play in the Kentucky Scholastic Lacrosse League. They play against top teams from Kentucky and beyond, among them MBA (Nashville), Cathedral (Indy), Culver Academy (Indiana) and Moeller (Cincy).

A major influence on the young Pete Schroeder to play lacrosse was his father. Bob Schroeder was the coach of both his middle and high school teams and has been inducted into two halls of fame in New Jersey for lacrosse coaching.

Of his father’s coaching methods, Schroeder said, “He really put a lot of time and energy into the game. He continued to learn more about the game and evolved with great enthusiasm.”

After completing his career at New Jersey’s Hunterdon Central High School, Schroeder played lacrosse at the college level at Kutztown College in Pennsylvania. During this time, he expanded his knowledge of the game as well as his studies.

He especially enjoyed the competition. “Being a goalie, the most fun thing I remember doing is saving shots that everyone expected to go in,” Schroeder said.

After four years at Kutztown, Schroeder passed the CPA exam and started working as an accountant. Schroeder filled his free time the way his dad had done, coaching lacrosse.  He coached with the enthusiasm he saw in his father.

“He makes practices fun,” team member Johnathan Endicott said.

Teammate Mike Webb said, “He makes me enjoy the game while teaching me about it, too.”

Schroeder wants his players to enjoy the game, but he also makes sure they work diligently to improve. “He’s really detailed oriented,” Endicott said.“He knows when we can do better, and he gets on us to get the best out.”

Schroeder maintains his dynamic coaching during big games. “He is smooth, calm and collected. He always keeps his composure,” assistant coach Geoff Norman said.

A major motivation for this year’s team is to avenge the loss in the state championship game last year, just edged out 10-9 by archrival St. Xavier. Schroeder said, “I look forward to leading this more experienced squad through this season and seeing just how far we can go.”

There have been many historic coaches in sports — Gregg Popovich, John Wooden, Bill Belichick — who are known for their wins. Schroeder has wins, but according to his players, he has more.

Player Jacob Rogers said, “The way that he runs practice and encourages us off and on the field makes me look forward to going to practice every day — and makes me take care of my school and outside life, too.”