Coach Meister began his career in 1969 with a one-year stint at Thompson. He recently completed his 21st year at Bishop Garrigan and has a career record of 844 wins and 354 losses, which ranks him seventh all-time in Iowa history by the Iowa Baseball Coaches Association.
"Styles change; I am not the same coach I was in 1969," said the veteran coach. "One thing that remains constant through all the years is the importance of preparing the young men I coach to learn more about the lessons of life. The game of baseball can help prepare them for the rest of their lives and hopefully a successful career in whatever they chose to do.
A lot of my former players are very successful in what they do and that is the point I am probably the most proud of. Baseball is a humbling game and it teaches a lot of good things to use later in life. It also gives me a great way to stay in touch with today's youth."
Meister graduated from Upper Iowa University in 1969 and took his first teaching job at Lake Mills starting in the fall. As the baseball job at Lake Mills didn't start until 1970, he coached that summer at Thompson.
He coached at Lake Mills for two years and then went back to grad school. Coach Meister coached at Thompson from 1973-1975 and continued to go to grad school in the summer.
Gene was the principal at Boxholm from 1978 to 1980. In 1980 he decided to move back home to Burt when his father Bernard retired from the farming operation.
The legendary V.J. Meyer had retired as the baseball coach at Bancroft St. John's in 1981, so Coach Meister took over as the head baseball coach at Bancroft in the fall of 81.
St. John's played in the Class 1A state tournament seven straight years from 1982 to 1988 under Coach Meister. The Johnnies won state titles in 85 and 86 along with taking second in 82, 87 and 88.
"I will never forget our first state tournament in 1982," said Coach Meister. "In our first-round game against Granville, Paul Menke came in and got us out of a jam. Chuck Schiltz made a phenomenal catch going toward the foul line in right field and threw a one-hop strike to plate to keep a runner at third.
The next batter hit a smash to center fielder Mike Elsbecker, who caught it for the final out. Against Norway, everything came together and Jeff Nemmers had a big game.
"We won the state title in 85 and 86 but the teams of 87 and 88 may have been the most talented groups but they didn't get the pitching and defense they needed," he added.
"I had some great players at Bancroft and it was a traditionally strong baseball town. They had big families with siblings that played and passed the game on down the line. We always had some pretty good pitchers and that led to a lot of success."
He talked briefly about some of the players that he had the opportunity to coach at St. John's.
"Tim Schneider was a great pitcher, a phenomenal player," said the veteran coach. "His dad spent a lot of time teaching him to pitch; I just had to keep him in line. He was great at hitting spots and Tim had pin-point control.
"Greg Vaske stands out to me because of the heart he had and the competitiveness he had. He didn't need any motivational talks, just give him the ball and it would be a short answer. I loved it at the state tournament when we played at noon in the heat because everyone else was tired and Greg already had put in a half-day of work at the farm and he loved to pitch in the heat.
"The Schiltz boys were so tough, especially Gordy and Vince. You didn't have to tell them anything when the game started. I remember when Gordy pitched both ends of a doubleheader on the same day in two different places. Joe was a great catcher with a sweet swing and had a great tournament in 1984, raising his average 120 points in the post-season."
Coach Meister remained at Bancroft until 1988 when it was announced that school was going to close in 1989. The Bishop Garrigan job opened up and he took it because it was the perfect job for him at the right time.
"I have always believed in Catholic schools and a good Catholic education, so the move was a perfect fit," said Gene. "I'm a Catholic school's person. I held different administrative positions at Bishop Garrigan and became the president in 1996.
We started a new tradition in baseball at Bishop Garrigan and we're still building on it today. We don't have a lot of boys that have fathers that played baseball which was the opposite of Bancroft. Families aren't as large now, that it just a sign of the times. We have lost some sub-state games and would like to change that in the future."
His 1999 Golden Bear team advanced to state and finished the year at 39-7 and was the state runner-up. The team was led by the play of Brad Nelson and the team rallied around him.
"Brad was the best hitter in the state as a sophomore," said Coach Meister. "His junior year of course, Brad started looking at some other options and he played in some all-star games. He got drafted his senior year and didn't play high school baseball that season; he was a great player.
We also had some other nice players. The Wingerts' in the early years, the Lickteigs', players like Aaron O'Kane, Beany Bode, Jeremy Bartolo and others. Benny Geelan was a division one player and he was the only one in his family to play baseball."
Gene had plenty of great assistant coaches to help him throughout the years such as likes of John Bartolo and John Byrkeland here but his most special relationship is with his long-time assistant Monte Pearson.
"I met Monte in 1973. He was at Lakota and I was at Thompson," said Coach Meister. "In 1982, he started to teach at Bancroft and wanted to help out coaching and the rest is history.
"Monte has a great baseball mind and he has done wonderful things for me. He loves the game, loves to be around kids and teach them the great game of baseball."
Behind the scenes of a successful coach is a great family full of support and the Meister family is no different. Gene, wife Mary Ann and their sons, Bradley, Robert and Mark all have played a big role in his baseball career.
"Mary Ann has been a God-send for me for 40 years," said Gene. "What she has done is very remarkable. She took care of the home for the all the years when I coached almost year round. I never had to worry about anything at home. She did a great job and it is an enormous burden.
I was blessed to coach all three of my sons, it is a special privilege. Bradley was very sound at everything he did. He wasn't flashy but I always knew what to expect with him. He was a very smart catcher.
Robert had more skills and he could throw the ball better. He had a very strong arm and had a good high school career. Mark was a very good defensive first-baseman and became our closer his senior season.
All three had different personalities. Bradley and Mark wouldn't bring the game home afterwards but Rob could talk about the game until I would fall asleep at night."
Another key ingredient to a successful program is the support programs.
"The parents along with the players and coaches make a tremendous sacrifice in the summer and some people don't make that choice. Parents have been very good at supporting them, being there fro them and people forget they have to get up in the morning and to their real job. Also the support of the school is a wonderful thing."
How much longer with the veteran coach continue to coach?
"I feel good and I enjoy what I do," said Coach Meister. "I don't know how many more years I will do this. I love what I do. The 2009 season was a very rewarding year and I am looking forward to 2010."
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