The former Canberra Raiders halfback was recently named head coach of the Storm as they seek to field a first grade side in Group 7 next year.

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Having captain-coached Moss Vale Dragons back in 2006, Schodel will be hoping for a happy return after enjoying coaching stints in Group 7 and with Wests Magpies NSW Cup.

It's the next stop on a pretty remarkable rugby league journey, one that has seen Schodel play under some of the biggest names in the game's history.

Reading like a Hall of Fame announcement, Schodel explained what he had learned about the nature of coaching and how it's changed over the decades.

"I was coached by Tom Raudonikis, Artie Beetson, of course Tim Sheens and Dean Lance back in the day at the Raiders," he told the Southern Highland News.

"As a coach you probably get a little bit of everyone and make it your own.

"You look at guys like [Wayne] Bennet and [Craig] Bellamy and what they're doing. You're more of a man manager than a coach these days.

"I look at it like I'm a teacher. I'm trying to teach these boys something. Not coach, teach and then manage them the best you can.

"I think the better coaches like Robinson and Bellyache and Bennent, when you hear players talk about them they talk about the off-field side of the coaching. They want to know about you, be involved with you and man-manage more than anything."

It's a far cry from Schodel's younger days when he burst onto the scene in Brisbane with Fortitude Valley in the 1980s.

Renowned for its brutality, the Brisbane Rugby League was a tough learning environment for players.

While he'll be putting an arm around plenty of players, Schodel said he is keen to keen alive one aspect of those days.

"I'm old school," he said.

"I was playing first grade in Brisbane when I was 17,18 back in the day. If you're good enough you're old enough I say."

Not that any young talent won't be aware of the history behind the merged club with Schodel seeking to wind back the decades in the hope of inspiring the next generation.

"I coached Moss Vale yonks and yonks ago and so I want guys from Moss Vale and from Bowral to come and play," he said

"I'm also looking at maybe getting one or two [former] players to come down and talk to the players about what it meant to play for Moss Vale or Bowral.

"I'm a traditionalist you could say. Even though they're only a couple of years old, the history of a club means a lot to me.

"For me to play in my own region, my own area and play for my mates. A lot of players will know each other and grew up together."

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