GILPIN COUNTY — When Gilpin County School staff and students return to school in August there will be a noticeable absence among them. Teacher, athletic director, activities director, and coach Jeff Schuessler, better known as Shoe in the halls, on the court and field, has retired. 

Schuessler grew up in Idaho Springs in a family that hiked and snowshoed—the typical outdoorsy Colorado family. He attended schools in Idaho Springs and graduated from Clear Creek High School. He was a student athlete for the Golddiggers, playing basketball and football. Although baseball is the sport he loves the most. 

Schuessler attended Regis University, earning a bachelor of arts degree in English and communications. He also played some baseball for Regis. He played a lot of baseball.

The 1991 Regis baseball team that Schuessler was on made it to the NCAA postseason tournament. There are records that he earned from his days playing for Regis that still stand today.

Schuessler holds the record for the most walks for a batter in Regis baseball: 62 walks in the 1991 season. He is second for the most stolen bases. He stole 27 bases in the 1991 season. This record was held until 2014. He is also in the Regis record books for being one of the players starting in the most games. 

His love, talent, and dedication to the sport led him to play semi-pro baseball for 13 years. He played for the Colorado Sox, covering mid-field or third base. 

While playing baseball he also went back to Clear Creek High School and started coaching baseball, basketball, and even football in some of those eight years. 

In 1999 Schuessler graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a Master of Arts degree in English Literature and Native American Literature. 

He had been drawn to literature since his days at Regis while being in Dr. Carmen Cassis’ literature class. They had read “Heart of Darkness” and she used Schuessler’s paper as a model to the class. He was inspired and gained confidence; it probably helped nudge him toward becoming the exceptional teacher we all grew to know. 

In 2001 Schuessler found himself at a crossroads. He had two, likely excellent, opportunities in front of him. He could move to Iowa and coach baseball and teach at a college, or he could teach high school English full time and coach girls’ basketball at Gilpin County School. It was not an easy choice. 

Schuessler said it was a “light bulb” moment when he walked into his parent’s home and saw hiking boots and outdoor gear. He paused and knew he could not leave Colorado. He chose the position at Gilpin County School. He stayed for 25 years. 

English and literature teacher Jeff Schuessler in his early years teaching at Gilpin County High School.

Gilpin County School Yearbook 2008-2009

Over his years of being a high school English teacher he has taught all grade levels of English, as well as, AP English, Honors English, Expository Writing, Shakespeare, Film Studies, and Great Authors. He was head of the Writing Center for four or five years. 

He was known to be a strict teacher with high standards and was highly respected. The 2008-2009 Gilpin County School yearbook said of Schuessler, “He has the heart of a true friend but still manages to maintain his tough authority in order for you to get your work done right.”

Schuessler said two books that he enjoyed teaching most were the 1929 novel “The Sound and the Fury” by William Faulkner, and Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.”

He needed to guide students with “The Sound and the Fury” but “It blows kids away,” he said. While reading “Frankenstein” Schuessler would talk to his students about how the book speaks to all generations about using technology wisely. Not all scientific discoveries and inventions benefit all of society. 

Celia Wilson, who was often a substitute teacher for Schuessler, said, “I loved listening to the discussions between the students, which were very insightful and well throughout. Students knew they would have to work hard in Mr. Schuessler’s classes. AP classes are challenging and he expected students to work hard and rise to his expectations.” 

Wilson added, “I have subbed in five different school districts, and he was my favorite teacher to sub for.”

Schuessler was hired to teach English and coach the high school girls’ basketball team. He built the girls’ basketball program and coached the team from 2001 through 2023. He said some of the best seasons were when they won and lost about the same amount of games. As a whole, those seasons were not as stressful. 

Coach Schuessler (middle left) with the Gilpin High School Girls' Basketball Team, 2011 - 2012. This team was the Consolation Champions at State.

Gilpin County School Yearbook 2011 - 2012

Schuessler said, “One cannot fall in love with winning.” There is more to basketball or any sport than the score at the end of the game. He would tell his teams, “Who you become in the process is most important.”

A smile crossed his face and there was a twinkle in his eye when he spoke about the 2012 Gilpin High School Girls’ Basketball Team. Their accomplishments stand out in his mind. The 2012 team were the Consolation Champions at State. 

Baseball was another sport Schuessler coached at Gilpin School. He did that for 10 years, although during some of those years it was a combined program with Clear Creek High School. Since baseball is his sport he loves coaching it. He loved connecting with the kids in all his coaching endeavors. 

His basketball coach often said, “The great ones adjust.” Schuessler passed those wise words on to the athletes he coached. 

In 2011 Schuessler added Athletic Director to his daily schedule. Somewhere in the 25 years he also added Activities Director. 

An athletic director (AD) has a multitude of responsibilities. They schedule games, reschedule games if needed, coordinate transportation for athletes, hire coaches, coordinate with coaches, hire referees, manage a budget, communicate with administrators and school board, make sure everyone is in compliance and eligible, prepare facilities for games, attend CHSAA meetings, and deal with conflict resolution. Do you realize Schuessler did this while teaching full time and coaching?

Coach Schuessler with the 2018 - 2019 Gilpin High School Girls' Basketball Team during a time out.

Gilpin County School Yearbook 2018 - 2019

Employees at small schools wear many hats. This might be the biggest stack of hats I have ever seen. 

While talking about being the AD, Schuessler took special note of thanking the administrators, coaches, and his colleagues at Gilpin County School. He enjoyed working with them and having their support. There were parents who coach teams and he appreciated that very much. He gave special thanks to elementary teacher Kellie Bayne for stepping in and coaching again and again over the years. 

While being AD and baseball coach, one of the hardest times for Schuessler at Gilpin School was when the baseball program ended. He could see it coming as the number of players became fewer and fewer. Summer baseball programs had been declining. Then the season came when they just had enough players to field a team and eight of them were seniors. The decision that no AD wants to make had to be made.  

Schuessler would tell his students, "Adversities are your greatest friend.” Losing baseball hurt. It had to be, so it was time to focus on what was next.  

Schuessler said when he came to Gilpin County School it was in a rough place. He believes they have changed the narrative. He is proud of the work the staff has done and the fact that he is leaving it better than when he came. 

Working in one place for so many years and dedicating so much time to the art of teaching and coaching is a statement of love and service. Schuessler said that the hardest part to fill will be how much he will miss connecting with the students.

For Schuessler it was a joy to read brilliant essays and know when something “clicked” with a student. Seeing great AP scores was always a highlight, because he knows the students worked very hard in those classes. The simple moments of connecting with a student in the classroom or on the court were the big moments. 

What does retirement look like after years of working 12 to 14 hour days or more, because there were always papers to grade when he returned home. He and his wife Jenny have a trip planned in the autumn. That is something he could not do before. Schuessler says that he is not making any big decisions for a few months. 

Maybe he will pick up some of his favorite books and read for hours; Shakespeare, Faulkner, “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” or “Ishmael.”

As he would tell his student athletes, “The bench can be your best friend.” This is a time for him to pause, take a breath, instead of gulping his coffee down in the morning he is going to savor it. He is going to sit on the bench, so to speak, gain some perspective and see where life will take him next. 

Congratulations on your retirement Mr. Schuessler—“Shoe”—you have earned every minute of it.