‘It’s his show now’: Rabe stays out of way as Schissel continues success with QU baseball program

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Josh Rabe wasn’t about to miss this. 

His baseball team usually is still playing in late May. This year’s squad had an important doubleheader to play on Saturday morning … in an under-8 tournament. Rabe now coaches his oldest son’s team, the Mayhem.

Oh, that Quincy University baseball team, which Rabe guided to 348 victories and seven NCAA Division II Tournament appearances during the past 11 years? Yes, they also had a big doubleheader on Saturday as well against Illinois-Springfield. However, Rabe wasn’t worried about that team.

The Hawks were in Matt Schissel’s good hands. 

“Let’s be honest here,” said Rabe, who now is QU’s athletic director. “All those guys I was around for, the majority of the roster, we did things one way. If I’m constantly around, and (Schissel) is trying to do something new, it’s not very effective. It’s his show now.

“Watching games now for me, I can play catch with my sons for a little bit and just watch. It’s a bit more relaxing than being in a dugout. I’ll be honest with you. It can be a little nerve-wracking watching from the sidelines, thinking about what you might do or whatnot. But now I’m just a spectator, and that’s that. It’s been good.”

So was the Hawks’ first season under Schissel. 

The Hawks finished 37-25 and were one victory away from earning a spot in the NCAA Division II World Series before losing Saturday’s doubleheader to the Prairie Stars.

Schissel, 28, was the Hawks’ pitching coach for the past two seasons after coming to QU in 2017 as a graduate assistant. He took over for Rabe four days after the conclusion of the 2021 season. 

“The first day I was no longer the baseball coach at Quincy University, I cleaned my office out and moved down the hall,” Rabe said. “He came in later and moved in. I went down to his office and said, ‘Hey, man, from experience, I’ve seen this go really bad when somebody becomes somebody else’s boss.

“I said you can consider me ‘ex-communicado.’ I’ll be around as much as you want me to, but you’re gonna have to ask, because I might as well not even be here. In the fall, I showed up for a scrimmage for two innings, and then I left. It was mainly because my kids wanted to go. We’ve talked several times on the phone, but I stayed away.”

Schissel says having Rabe available is an “awesome resource.”

“I have a question, I can bounce ideas off him,” Schissel said after Saturday’s games. “He’s always going to tell me the truth, and he’s going to be honest with me. He’s won a lot of games. He turned this place into what it is. If he wasn’t here, we wouldn’t be here.”

Schissel couldn’t help but second-guess himself when the Hawks started the season with nine losses in their first 18 games, including three losses at home to Davenport (Mich.).

“Nothing’s going to prepare you for the job until you do it,” he said. “There’s been so many things this year that I’ve screwed up. I’ve lost so many games, it’s unbelievable. 

“You almost have to question yourself when you have a team that’s been to the postseason six years in a row, and now you’re 9-9 and looking (a four-game series with) Illinois-Springfield in the face. It’s easy to question yourself, but I never questioned the guys. They picked me up all year.”

The Hawks won three out of four games against the Prairie Stars and continued to play well thereafter, earning a seventh straight NCAA Tournament bid.

Centerfielder Brock Boynton never lost confidence in his team.

“I’ve been telling my dad since this winter that you’re going to see us in Cary (N.C., site of the NCAA Division II World Series),” he said. “We ended up one game short, but that’s the type of energy this team and this program shows. Everyone’s a dog. We just came up short.”

“We never had a doubt about this team,” second baseman Dayson Croes said. “We knew we were going to fight for (Schissel) to make sure we had a good first season, and I think we did a pretty good job. I think he’s got a really bright future ahead.”

After Saturday’s heartbreaking losses, Schissel was low key.

“He’s got a good demeanor,” Rabe said. “He’s a good dude, a good person. He’s just an extremely honest guy. He takes things to heart, and he is really, really loyal to Quincy University baseball. What else can you ask for?”

“The first thing I think of is ‘high character,’” Boynton said of Schissel. “One big thing this year is he taught us that the next guy is going to pick you up. You may have done something dumb on the field or had a bad (at-bat). Doesn’t matter. The next guy is going to pick you up. 

“Rabe’s kind of old school. Been there, done that. Lets you know that he’s the guy. Don’t get me wrong. They’re both great coaches. Schiz is more laid back and is going to kind of wait to see. He knows you’ve got that potential. He’s going to ride you out.”

Sounds like Rabe’s ready to do the same.

“I’m staying out of the way,” he said. “I was the captain of the ship for 11 years. He’s the captain now. He’s doing a good job.”