Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame inductee Borden Smith wrote: “In my opinion, with 38 years in the Whitesboro football program, plus other service and achievements in local athletics, Tom Schoen definitely meets the requirements (as) … a member of the Greater Utica Sports Hall of Fame.”  Smith could not have been more correct.

Schoen is a Whitesboro Central School Class of 1967 alumnus excelled in three sports on the collegiate level at Ithaca College.  He was a four-year starter in Football, Ice Hockey and Lacrosse, and was selected as a captain for the Hockey (1970-1971) and Lacrosse (1971) teams.  Schoen was named the NYSSWA All-New York State Football Offensive Guard in 1970 and Ithaca College’s Athlete of the Year in 1971.

Upon graduation from Ithaca, Schoen was named Assistant Football and Lacrosse Coach during the 1971-1972 academic year.  Dean Junior College tapped him as the Head Football & Lacrosse Coach from 1972-1974.  The Franklin, Massachusetts College benefitted from Schoen’s terrific leadership.  Most notably, his Lacrosse teams that enjoyed rankings of No. 2 in the 1973 NJCAA Region III and No. 3 in the 1974 NJCAA Region III

In 1974, though, Schoen’s alma mater called him home, and he has been there ever since.  In his thus-far 38-year career, Schoen has coached the Warriors’ Football team to an astonishing 230-113-3 record.  For ten years, Schoen also coached the Lacrosse team (1974-1983) where he amassed a record of 56-38.  Additionally, he coached Lacrosse, Women’s Ice Hockey and Men’s Ice Hockey at Hamilton College.  While at Hamilton, Schoen racked up a record of 23-8-1 from 1981-1983 as Head Coach of the Women’s Ice Hockey team and a 216-114 record as Head Coach of the junior varsity Men’s Hockey team.

Schoen’s greatest success, however, has been as the sideline leader of the Whitesboro Central High School’s football team where he has achieved the following:

13 National Conference Championships: 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2011

21 Consecutive and 24 Total Section III Playoff Appearances: 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,2009, 2010, 2011

12 Section III Championship Appearances: 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011

8 Section III Class A Championships: 1986, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010

5 NY State Quarterfinals: 1996, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010

3 NY State Regional Championships                                                       1996, 2009, 2010

3 NY State Semi-Final Championship Appearances                          1996, 2009, 2010

1 NY State Class A State Championship Finals                                    1996

Schoen, who is married to the former Sharon McNally, has three children (Thomas Jr., Kristen Shulsky and Kelly Alcuri) and has nine grandchildren.  He has been inducted into the Whitestown Teachers Hall of Fame (2003), the Ithaca College Hall of Fame (2011) and was given the 2007 New York State Coaches Association Honor Award.  Schoen was named the National Conference Coach of the Year six times, the Section III Coach of the Year (2004) and twice was named the Mohawk Valley Coach of the Year (2009 & 2010).  Additionally, he has served over 20 years on the Section III Football Committee.