When he was a junior in high school, Schmittou began coaching youth baseball teams for 9 to 12-year-old children. Concurrently, he pitched on the Cohn High School baseball team. After graduating, he enrolled at Peabody College, which is known for its teacher education program. He continued to coach three youth baseball teams and play in a city league while attending Peabody. By the end of his sandlot coaching career, Schmittou had over 500 wins, 20 city championships, 8 state championships, and 6 of his teams went to national tournaments.