Shawn Jansen: Scheidt tested market

Rob Scheidt doesn't have one foot out the door at Merced.

He hasn't suddenly grown tired of his closet full of an assortment of orange and black clothes.

However, there are people who might be wondering just how committed Scheidt is to Merced after he went after the Clovis West job for the second time in three years.

This time it was much different.

Three years ago, Scheidt went back and forth about whether he wanted to really pursue the job.

He ultimately decided to pull his name out of consideration before Clovis West began the interview process.

Obviously, this time Scheidt was sure he wanted the job.

Scheidt was one of the eight finalists for the Clovis West job that eventually went to former Modesto Christian coach Mike Parsons earlier this week.

Scheidt knows people might be uspet he was thinking of leaving again.

"I think that some of the things that are said about me are deserved," Scheidt said. "The first time I looked was about giving myself the opportunity to look. This time, it was definitely more than a look.

"This year, for me professionally, it was something I wanted to look at and go further in the process. I decided to go all in on it and it was good for me personally.

"I think it will pay dividends for our program in the long run.

"It didn't have anything to do with Merced High. If anything, those were the things pulling me to stay."

My question for those who may be upset for Scheidt possibly leaving, can you really blame him?

Just the monetary reasons alone make the move tough to turn down.

You're talking about a 33-percent raise.

When you start talking about the prestige and the tradition at Clovis West, teaching fewer classes so you can focus on football, not having to be as hands-on with fundraising, you can understand why there is so much interest in the that job when it opens up what seems just about every year.

That's not a knock on the Merced job.

If Scheidt ever left, Merced principal John Olson and athletic director Scott Winton would have a stack of résumés taller than most incoming freshmen.

There's not a program in the area that has had more talent come through in recent years than Merced.

Scheidt has made it clear he's happy at Merced. That doesn't mean he doesn't think he can be happier somewhere else.

I don't think there are too many jobs out there that would lure Scheidt away.

"I'm at a point in my career where I've got two choices," Scheidt said. "I can really make my mark here and it's not just trying to make my mark, but trying to build up our program as strong as we can be. Or I can start fresh, and there's only a few places I would want to do that. Clovis West was one of those places.

"I've been in education for 18 years now and I'm now heading into the backside of my career -- which seems strange even saying -- but I'm looking at 10 to 15 more years."

So what happens now?

Well, if the noise of weights clanging in the background as I talked to Scheidt on the phone Wednesday afternoon is any indication, nothing has changed.

At least for now, Scheidt is continuing the career path of building up Merced's program as strong as it can be.

In his 14 years, Scheidt has compiled a 95-59 record and led Merced to four Central California Conference championships.

It looks like he'll be going after a fifth title and chasing his 100th career win at Merced.

"Either way, I was going to be happy," Scheidt said. "And either way, I was going to be in a good situation.

"I'm happy I'm here. I believe that things happen for a reason and there's a reason I'm coaching here. I'm happy for a chance to go after another league championship. I believe there's a reason I took over this legacy in 1996."

Shawn Jansen is a Sun-Star sports reporter. He can be reached at 395-2462 or via e-mail at sjansen@mercedsun-star.com.