There was a time when Shawn Windle didn’t know what he wanted to do or where he should be.

He had taken the traditional step into college after graduating from Edward Little High School, but he just wasn’t finding his niche.

“I went to Keene State, the University of Southern Maine, it wasn’t a good fit for me,” said Windle. “I was trying to major in business, and it wasn’t right for me. I took a couple of years off from college before going to Presque Isle.”

The thought of heading north was prompted by his familiarity with Coach Karl Henrikson. Windle had played basketball for him as a Red Eddie before Henrikson went to UMPI in 1989.  During a visit to the campus, Windle lit a spark that ignited his future.

“I met the athletic trainer up there,” said Windle. “We started talking about what athletic trainers do and the adjunct professions that go along with that. He mentioned strength and conditioning. I had no idea something like that existed at the time, and I really keyed in on that. That’s what sold me on going to Presque Isle.”

Windle had always enjoyed working out and training as an athlete. He said it was something that was probably always on his radar, but he needed the right direction.

“From that point forward, that was my ultimate goal, to be a high-end strength coach,” said Windle.

Windle has certainly done that. He’s currently the strength and conditioning coach for the Indiana Pacers, He was named the National Basketball  Strength and Conditioning Association’s Coach of the Year.

“You spend a lot of time trying to educate yourself on how to get players better,” said Windle. “You spend a huge amount of time at work and away from your family. To reach the point where your peers respect you enough to vote you the strength coach of the year is an honor I’d never felt before. It was something that was so outstanding. It was fantastic.”

Windle doesn’t spend a lot of time looking back on the distance he’s come, but there are those moments that make him realize the amazing journey he’s taken after that brief period of an uncertain future.

“I certainly have moments where it enters my mind — where I was and what I was doing back in Maine,” said Windle. “At times, I couldn’t imagine I’d be in this position. I don’t have a whole lot of time for reflection but every now, and again you have a moment when I realize I’m a small town kid that ended up in the NBA.”

After his time at Presque Isle, where he’ll soon be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame, Windle got work at the college level. That ultimately led to a job at the University of Connecticut and its basketball program. His love was really football, but working with Jim Calhoun and the Huskies again set him on the proper course.

“The timing was right, and I got into basketball and that cemented my future with basketball,” said Windle.

He later landed a job with the Rutgers basketball program and that’s when he began thinking about the next level. His experience and contacts were putting those high-end opportunities within reach. He interviewed with the New York Yankees about a job and later spoke with the Charlotte Bobcats. Then a year later, the right job came looking for him.

“The Pacers actually called me,” said Windle. “I didn’t even know of the job opening. They called and told me they’d be hiring and asked if I’d be interested. So they just reached out to me.”

Windle took that job and has been with the Pacers for seven seasons.

“It was certainly my goal to work in the NBA,” said Windle. “I felt like my career had been building toward that.”

The Pacers have had their struggles in recent years but made some noise this season. With a good mix of veterans and young talent, an athletic Pacer squad pushed the Miami Heat in the playoffs. The Heat eventually made it through that round to earn a series with Boston before going on to the NBA title.

“The success showed up on the court and we were healthy through the year,” said Windle, who is also the president of the NBSCA.

It is an exciting work atmosphere and a busy one. There isn’t much offseason between the draft and summer basketball. Windle just recently came off a vacation with his wife and three kids but is back at it with the NBA season not too far away.

He says he’s too busy to think about what might come next. He’s still living in the moment but knows another opportunity may come his way at some point to offer a new direction.

“The NBA schedule and travel is brutal,” he said. “So I know it’s something I don’t want to do for the rest of my life, but what comes next, I’m not sure.”

He says he wouldn’t likely jump to another NBA team or take another strength and conditioning job elsewhere. So wherever his future lies, it would have to be something unique.

“I’m really happy in Indiana,” said Windle, who still keeps in touch with his school and former coaches. “It’s a great place to live and it’s a great organization to work for. If the right opportunity comes along – and I don’t know what that is – I’d certainly give it a look.”

[email protected]