Spring 2003

'probably' Senske's last season

NEW ULM - New Ulm High School head baseball coach Jim Senske said on Friday that next season -- his 40th as head coach at NUHS -- "will probably be my last as head coach."

Currently, Senske has compiled an amazing 687 wins at NUHS -- by far the most of any high school baseball coach in Minnesota history -- and those wins are a mark that very likely will never be touched.

Included in those wins are a state 3-A championship that was won this season, two second place finishes, three, third-place titles and five consolation crowns. His teams have made a record 19 state tournament appearances.

"I have decided to go for another year and, maybe after next year, I might decide to coach another year," said Senske who is 62 years old. "I have retired from teaching (Senske still substitutes as a teacher) but I still enjoy coaching. It is still one of the things that I still have left that I can do. It is hard to give up something that you enjoy doing."

He said that the other thing that came into his decision is that "next year will be 40 years as a head coach -- that is a milestone right there. That was about it."

He said that his wife, Katie, "has encouraged me to keep coaching (another year), and my coaching staff has also encouraged me to keep coaching.

"Plus, the (returning) players on the team (a team that finished 27-3 this year and a state championship) have also encouraged me to come back so that is a positive right there."

But Senske added that while he is "fairly sure" that next year will be his final season as head coach, "I am not that sure. I will let that take care of itself but there is a very strong possibility that (next season) will be it."

"Dave Curry (Senske's assistant coach) has told me that I should keep coaching as long as I want to. He said that he would be my assistant for as long as I wanted to remain as head coach," Senske said. "("B" squad coach) Jim Schwarz has encouraged me all the time to keep coaching also."

Senske said that he and his wife Katie have bought a retirement home in Texas "and we go down there each winter. This past year, we got back in March just in time for two snowstorms. The decision might be that I want to stay there longer. Neither of us likes winter that well.

"Plus, I think that a person knows when it is time to quit," he said. "When you no longer have an interest in it -- when it is an obligation and rather than an advocation. I don't have that feeling yet. I still like coaching and we have a good nucleus coming back that we can build on. It has been a fun thing for me. You don't ever coach for money, you coach because you like to coach.''

"I enjoy baseball a lot, but the chances of me coaching more than one more year are pretty slim," he said.

THANK YOU TO NEW ULM CITY COUNCIL: On behalf of the New Ulm Baseball Association, I sincerely want to thank the New Ulm City Council for granting the NUBA its third Charitable Gambling site at the remodeled B & L Bar with the NUBA's other sites located at Smiley's Bar and the Schnitzelbank Stube.

With the monies raised from these sites, the NUBA helps out ALL of New Ulm -- not just baseball. We regularly donate to all three high school athletic funds (over $14,000 to New Ulm Cathedral, $12,000 to New Ulm High School and $11,500 to Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School). Also, over $180,000 has been donated to the City of New Ulm and $500 scholarships are given each year to a graduating senior from each of New Ulm's three high schools.

All told, over $360,000 has been donated throughout New Ulm since 1989.

Again, Thank You to the New Ulm City Council. This is more good news for ALL of New Ulm.

ARMBRUSTER SIGNS WITH UMD: Chad Armbruster, a 6-foot 3 pitcher/firstbaseman from Sleepy Eye St. Mary's, has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at University of Minnesota -- Duluth next year.

Armbruster led SESM to this year's state Class A title. He was 6-0 on the mound with a 1.76 ERA and he also hit .329 for the Knights.

SENSKE WON-LOSS RECORD: Here is Jim Senske's won-loss record by year.

1964:15-1; 1965:11-3;1966-194; 1967:17-5; 1968:15-5; 1969:21-1;1979:20-4; 1971:15-6; 1972:15-6; 1973:13-7; 1974: 18-2;1975:14-3:1976:11-6; 1977: 15-4; 1978;:19-2; 1979: 15-4; 1980:15-3;1981: 14-4; 1982: 11-6; 1983: 14-4; 1984: 18-5; 1985: 21-2; 1986: 16-4; 1987:15-4; 1988:22-3; 1989:22-1; 1990:21-4; 1991: 23-3; 1992: 17-4; 1993:13-7; 1994:20-8; 195:24-3; 1996:14-12; 1997: 19-6; 1998:21-6; 1999:24-3; 2000:20-5: 2001: 23-4: 2002: 27-3.