Rob Kleinschmidt was always a natural athlete.
Kleinschmidt competed in football, wrestling and track while at Orfordville-Parkview High School during the late-1980s.
When Kleinschmidt was a student at UW-Madison, though, he encountered the first sport that gave him fits.
Volleyball.
“My wife (Sue) introduced me to volleyball when I was 21 and I was just awful,” Kleinschmidt said. “I couldn’t believe I could be that bad at something. But I started playing, got a lot better and loved it.”
So much that Kleinschmidt has been playing — and coaching — for more than a quarter century. Now, the latest chapter in his volleyball journey takes him to Middleton High School, where he was recently named the Cardinals’ new head coach.
Kleinschmidt replaces longtime coach Ben White, who was named Middleton’s assistant athletic director in June, a position that precludes him from coaching.