Malta's Schye elected into Coaches' Hall

On August 3, Malta Track and Field Coach Tad Schye will enter the Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame along with 10 other inductees.

"It's a humbling experience but it just feels surprising because it's hard to believe that a person can be at that point in their career," Schye said. "And really, I feel blessed that I'm there because everything has worked out very well for myself and the teams that I have got to coach."

Schye, who is the current MHS Track coach and Malta Elementary School Principal is the sixth former Malta coach that had been awarded the honor joining 2016 inductee Bernie Wasser, 2012 inductee Scott King, 1995 inductee Del Fried, 1987 inductee Glenn Flatt and 1983 inductee Bill Ryan.

"I'm extremely pleased that the Montana Coaches Association recognized Coach Schye's achievements in coaching athletics here at Malta High School," Malta High School Principal and Athletic Director Scott King said. "The accomplishments and the success of our athletics program, specifically our girls and boys track teams and Mustang Football have resulted in the many efforts and dedication of Coach Schye. He is without a question one of the top coaches in his field around the state of Montana and student athletes of Malta High School have been very fortunate to have his direction."

Schye has followed in the footsteps of his father Jack, who was a coach at Lavina, Winifred and Glasgow over the span of 37 years.

"I've been around high school teams and coaching since I was a little kid and since I can remember," Schye said. "Even in preschool, I would go to his practices and I was always around the team."

Schye has coached Malta Track and Field since 1990 but he was also an assistant coach for Mustang Football for 25 years, from 1989 to 2013. He was the football team's head coach in 2014. His experience in coaching has included four team state titles in track, ten state trophies in track and three state titles in football. He also coached middle school basketball.

Despite all of the accolades, one of Schye's proudest benchmarks was being able to coach his children.

"I've been able to coach all three of my children in track and field," he said. "It's worked out that way. When I started coaching in 1990, it wasn't really the plan to coach my kids but it's been nice to be around my kids in the area of track and field."

Coach Schye is a Billings native that spent many of his schools years in Glasgow, where he graduated from Glasgow High School.

"I ran and threw in track and field; I played basketball and football," he said.

After graduation, Schye attended Jamestown College in N.D., where he continued his football career. He was hired by Malta Public Schools in 1989.

He and his wife Amy, have three children. Their oldest is Tucker, who plays defensive for the University of Montana Grizzlies. Tucker was recently chosen to wear the team's number 37 jersey, an honor that has been passed down to an in-state recruit and defensive leader. Tucker was a thrower and sprinter for Malta track.

The couple's second child is Darby, who is currently playing ball for University of Montana Western in Dillon.

Their third child is Ella, who is currently a junior at Malta High School.

"Darby and Ella have run on the relay teams at different times and they are throwers in multiple events," Schye said.

Coach Schye was also thankful for the many coaches that his children have been around during track seasons.

"Coach Flatt, Coach King and Coach Kalli Reintjes have coached the throwers at our school," Schye said. "They've been around good people."

Coach Schye has also had his wife Amy by his side as an assistant coach for 18 years.

"It's really been a family event for us," he said.

Being a coach for nearly three decades, Coach Schye had some advice for those that would like to coach in the future.

"It's not always going to be easy and it's not going to go the way you want it to go," Schye said. "It can be very challenging. So you need to do it for reasons to provide an opportunity and experience for young people through a sport that you love."

Though he has reached a major milestone in his career, Schye admitted that it was never about the achievement.

"The Hall of Fame was never my goal," he said. "I just coached because I like doing this and to be coaching as long as I have, it doesn't seem like it has been that long."