Coach's Corner- Building Brotherhood: Caleb Steinert and the Playmakers Standard

Caleb Steinert

@CalebSteinert

WI Playmakers North 17U NB E32

Born and raised in Duluth, MN, Caleb Steinert has been tied to the game since he first picked up a ball at age five. A former Hermantown High standout who briefly competed in basketball and track at UW-Superior before injuries ended his playing days, Caleb knew right away he wasn’t done with the sport. Coaching became his calling. From his first job at Hermantown coaching junior high, to assistant varsity stops at Duluth East and Superior, to joining Phil Roe and the Playmakers in 2019, Caleb has built his craft on every level, coaching everything from 12U to the national 17U circuit. His purpose has never wavered: to help kids grow, develop, and succeed. Whether it’s giving a young player the confidence to make their high school C-team or helping a star elevate his game to earn a college opportunity, Caleb brings the same fire. His goal isn’t just to win but to build players who rise to their full potential.

That passion is what drives him when coaching some of the top talent in Wisconsin. He sees the ceiling every kid can push past, and he thrives on helping them climb another rung higher. The proof is in the Playmakers platform. Competing on the New Balance P32/E32 Circuit, five teams finished in the top five in July, a feat nearly unheard of in Northern programs. Caleb describes the Playmakers as more than a team: a brotherhood. Players practice together, cheer on each other’s benches, celebrate every victory, and embrace the accountability that pushes each one closer to their goals. For Caleb, inspiring unity comes down to perspective, reminding his players that everyone has the same dream: to improve, to earn scholarships, to compete at the highest level. Lift each other up, and success multiplies.

Off the court, Caleb works as an Aerospace Quality Inspector, but he still finds time to watch his old and current players shine in their hometown gyms. Nothing fuels him more than seeing kids represent their communities and battle with pride. The journey isn’t without challenges. Every new AAU season brings together ten new faces, often the best in their towns, conferences, and regions, and molding those talents into one cohesive unit takes time. Add in spring sports, family commitments, and limited practice windows, and the task of building chemistry quickly becomes a puzzle. Yet Caleb sees it as a blessing: overcoming those obstacles makes the finished product even more rewarding.

Since 2019, he’s been guiding kids through this journey, and his message to aspiring athletes is to enjoy the ride. Take pride in your ability, put in the work, be disciplined and accountable, but don’t forget to find joy in the process. These years don’t come back. For Caleb, that balance, of drive and joy, of hard work and family, is what makes the Playmakers family truly thrive.