Hunter Hippel is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Gilbert Christian High School.

Standing in a t-shirt, jeans and flip-flops, Gilbert Christian quality control coach Bob Hershey may look like the prototypical team dad.  He's buff, hard-nosed and has a son that starts both ways for the Knights. He's the school's head baseball coach.

He walks around the practice field observing, sometimes standing with the injured players who are out of pads to make sure that things off the field - ranging from school to girls - are going okay. 

He also helps set up the team's after practice ice bath while also is sometimes right in the middle of the action during practice, picking nits on a player's technique or effort during a play.  It looks as if he does it all, and according to everyone around him, that's exactly what he does.

"He's like my right-hand man," head coach Danny Norris said.  "I couldn't do it without him here this year."

For Norris, in the midst of his first season at Gilbert Christian, having that type of assistant around is a blessing.

Hershey has his second son, Matthew, coming through the school's athletic program as a sophomore running back and safety.  Hershey's been with the school for four years now, and has been coaching sports overall for 30 years. That experience, according to Norris, is the biggest thing Hershey brings to the table.

"He's been a head coach for about as long as I've been alive," Norris said.

Hershey previously coached at Dobson High School in Mesa and spent time at other schools in the Valley.  A former college baseball player, football wasn't really his thing entering the real world out of school.  But over the years, he's accumulated knowledge that even surpasses Norris'.

"He knows thing," Norris said.  "He allows me to not fall into certain potholes because he knows things.

"He sees the smaller things that I don't have to see.  I'm looking at the bigger picture of the plays."

While Norris is waiting to react to a play's outcome, Hershey is breaking it down.

“I really try and follow his lead and what he’s trying to accomplish,” Hershey said.  “One person can only see so much. I even ask him quite often ‘What do you want me to focus on here?’  I just try to be a second set of eyes. I try and help out and get different angles and perspectives.”

Norris said it’s the little things Hershey can spot.

"'Did we step right on that play?"' Norris said, imitating Hershey. "'Is our wingback in the correct alignment that he's supposed to be in?  Is he stepping at the right time? Is he motioning at the right time?

"He catches the small things.  And I think every good coach needs someone that can do that."

While Hershey credits the coaching staff for the film breakdown of opponents, he takes on that role during the game.

"He's my eyes and my ears as far as, 'OK, if they have a player who's out, maybe lets attack this,'" Norris said.

Hershey isn't just important to Norris, though.  He's the funnel between the players and coaches.

"If I'm not getting through to them, then he certainly does," Norris said.

That's a double-edged sword, though.

"If the players are doing something they're not supposed to be doing, he'll be the first one to catch it," Norris said.  "He's big on attitude, concentration and effort."

That is confirmed by his son, who feels the wrath of his dad more than anyone else.

"That's just part of father-son coaching," Matthew said of his dad being hard on him. "It's something that comes with it."

But Matthew, like everyone, sees the benefit in it.

"It makes me a lot better player," he said.

But while Hershey can be intimidating, he knows these kids.  Norris has been with them for just six games.

“I’m sure that that is helpful,” Hershey said of his relationship to the players and how it helps Norris.

Norris confirmed that.

"He knows things about these kids that I don't know," Norris said.

Hershey is working on getting Norris to that level, though. 

“He’s already been doing a phenomenal job communicating with them and growing his relationship with the boys,”  he said of the head coach. “I think they have a real good trust with each other.”

Hershey has been there for Norris.  He is such a staple at Gilbert Christian that he was on the board that supervised the hiring of the schools' next coach this offseason. That coach was Norris.  When Hershey showed interest in helping coach, Norris brought him on right away.

Despite his vital role, Hershey doesn't want to be in the spotlight.  He simply calls himself Norris' assistant.  

“I’m just a very small cog in this machine,” he said.  “And I’m just happy to be here.”