Submitted photo New Ulm Cathedral coach Bob Weier (1) talks to his team after a game last week. Weier retired from coaching on Monday.

NEW ULM — “In the last five or six weeks, it just came to my mind that it was time.”

Those were the words of New Ulm Cathedral head baseball coach Bob Weier on Monday, who said that after 27 years and a record of 427-190, it was time to retire.

Weier steps down as the 11th most winningest high school baseball coach in Minnesota history with a winning percentage of .692.

“I had not really given retirement much thought before that,” Weier said. “I always enjoyed going to practice and still enjoyed doing that. But it just got to be a real challenge to perform to the level that I wanted to perform at physically. I did not think that I was doing the kids justice — I still enjoyed the kids and the competition and being around the game of baseball. But the physical part was beginning to wear on me and I think that it affected some of my thought processes.

“Some of the things did not click mentally during games like they had and I just felt that it was time.”

New Ulm Cathedral Athletic Director Alan Woitas said Weier has had a very impressive run as the Greyhounds’ baseball coach, a run that includes 10 Tomahawk Conference championships. four Sectional titles, a third-place finish in the Class A state tournament and a state Class A championship in 2005.

“We feel very blessed to have had Bob as part of our system,” Woitas said. “He has an extreme passion for the game of baseball and that is very evident in his knowledge of the game and his ability to relate to the players.”

And Weier felt that he used that ability to relate to his players on the baseball field came early in his career when he realized that is not only important being not just a coach but, more importantly, a teacher.

“One of the first clinics that I went to and it was not even a baseball clinic, it was a general coaches clinic — and it was put on by Frosty Westerling, a football coach (from Pacific Lutheran University), who spoke at a New Ulm Club banquet. He said a phrase that always stuck with me in that you are not a coach at this level, but you are also a teacher. You want to teach the kids the game, how to play it and especially about sportsmanship.”

Weier said that making the decision to step down after 27 seasons was not any easy choice.

“There are so many factors in that (decision),” he said. “It is the right thing to do and I think that it is at this point. But when you have been doing something for 27 years, there will be aspects that I will miss.”

Weier will have several memories to look back on fondly.

“There will be a lot of good memories that I will take away,” Weier said. “You meet a lot of nice kids, parents, opposing coaches. I have received a lot of support over the years from my spouse, Betty, to my family, to John Vetter, former Cathedral Activities Director who hired me to Alan Woitas.

“The support of the public and the Cathedral family — I have a difficult time putting into words what it means to me,” Weier added.

Woitas said that when you think of Cathedral baseball, the first thing you think of is Bob Weier.

“He has been a staple in our program for 27 years and he has always gone about his business in the right way and his players have reflected that. He has always represented Cathedral in a very positive way.”

Weier said that one of the things that he is very grateful for in his career is the assistant coaches he has had to work with.

“I think that I have been blessed with some of the best baseball minds in our area,” he said. “Bryce Boelter and his enthusiasm for the game and then Sam Clyne and his passion for the game and knowledge of the game. When Sam retired, I discussed it with Ryan Weier and he took over.”

Weier knows that come next spring it wil be strange not getting ready for the start of baseball practice.

“I am going to miss the enthusiasm that the kids have when practice starts and the competition,” he said. “I will be a fan in the stands and watch the game.”