[1][2][3][4] Schmitz was a four-year letterman at second base for Eastern Michigan, which he helped to a pair of College World Series appearances including the 1976 final.

He spent brief time in the New York Mets and Minnesota Twins systems, including a season as a player-coach with the Toledo Mud Hens before retiring and turning full-time to coaching.

[1][4] Immediately after ending his playing career, he served as manager of the Twins' class-A affiliate Visalia Oaks.

Schmitz has seen 29 players sign professional contracts, while his teams have amassed over 600 wins.

[1][3] Following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Bowling Green State University announced the termination of the baseball program due to budget cuts during the pandemic,[5] just weeks later, the school announced that it had fund-raised enough money to revive the program effective immediately.