KEN LANE / Staff

For the past 13 years, when not handling his duties as a firefighter in South Naples, Rob Schank has successfully worked to bring the Lely Trojan boys'­ soccer program to a perennial district title contender.

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As long as the Lely boys’ soccer program is under the guidance of Rob Schank, there never once better be a complaint from any of the players about having to work too hard.

All Schank will have to do is take off his shoes and ask said player to walk a mile in them. That poor hypothetical kid wouldn’t even make it halfway.

Schank’s legacy at Lely is most likely already cemented as he has practically single-handedly turned the program around and brought the Trojans to the ranks of perennial district title contender. Unfortunately for the rest of the teams in the area, despite the demands of Schank’s day job, they haven’t kept him away from the sideline.

In addition to coaching, Schank is a firefighter in South Naples and has been doing so for 11 years. As part of his career outside of soccer, and in addition to the already admirable duties of a firefighter, Schank also trains to be on the department’s Special Unit Rescue team. That group specializes in everything from providing support in the tightest of spaces to diffusing bombs. He’s also on the hazmat team – responsible for controlling dangers due to hazardous materials.

Traditionally, firefighters work for 24 straight hours and are off for 48, but because the high school soccer season demands that the coach be available all week long, Schank exhausts all his vacation time and works straight through the summer, picking up shifts of other firefighters that eventually return the favor during soccer season.

When he’s asked why he works so hard just to coach high school soccer, there is no hesitation in his response.

“I made a promise to myself that I would coach here and make it a complete program,” he said. “I think that I have built a foundation here, and we have had more kids come out in the past ten years than ever before.”

That’s the other thing; he knows soccer better than anyone at Lely. Not only did he play for and graduate from the school, at the same time he began his firefighting career 13 years ago, he simultaneously took over as Lely’s head coach.

Sounds like enough, right? Not for Schank. His firefighting involvement extends beyond saving lives and the occasional burning building. He’s been able to bring his love of soccer to work as well.

We’re not just talking about pick-up games, either.

As if coaching a group of youngsters year-in and year-out isn’t enough, he coaches grown men too, and for four months out of the year for the past eight years, Schank trains a local firefighter side that competes in the Florida Firefighter’s Olympic Games. In the past six years, his team won three straight silver medals, a bronze, and finally in its last time competing, took home the gold.

As for his high school squad, that’s not doing so badly either.

Lely kicked off the season with an 8-3 start, butafter a myriad of afflictions – strep throat, red cards and a couple of injuries managed to all rear their ugly heads at once, Lely dropped five straight after losing five starters.

Schank has those five back now, and Lely seems primed to make a run at a strong finish in its district. Seniors Beker Escalante and Eddy Castillo provide necessary senior leadership, and freshmen Jerry Reyes, who has scored 11 goals this season, and Ben Jean, who has added seven more, provide a youthful spark.

Of course, even a guy like Schank gets some help sometimes.

“The majority of our players play in the Spanish League locally, they travel with the Naples Sharks, participate with SWFL United and my assistants participate in youth development,” he said. “I think the most important thing that has helped at Lely is that we dedicate time every day to study hall, and that is key to keeping kids on the field.”

It’s clear that Schank has his share of priorities, but he’s not showing any signs of any sort of burn-out. In fact, the only time he can’t say what’s next for him is when he’s asked when he’s going to have had enough.

“Right now I know no other way then following whatever path God takes me, and I’ll follow his lead; this is how I can give back,” he said. “I have had a very blessed life and as much as I have taught those kids, they have taught me how to be a role model.”