IC football coach Schmidt to resign
Immaculate Conception varsity football coach Bill Schmidt, whose Knights won the Class 2A state title Nov. 28, will resign his position effective Jan. 1, 2009.
A teacher of at-risk students within the Success Plus program at Thomas Jefferson Junior High School in Woodridge School District 68, Schmidt has accepted a promotion to assistant principal at Jefferson starting in January. The job precludes him from continuing as Knights head coach.
In a Monday news release, Immaculate Conception athletic director Darren Howard stated Schmidt "intends to remain with the football program" in an unspecified role. The Knights were honored Monday night at Elmhurst's City Hall, after which Schmidt notified the team.
Schmidt, 34, a 1993 graduate of Immaculate Conception and a Daily Herald DuPage All-Area football team selection as a senior receiver and defensive back, compiled a 23-21 record in five seasons as head coach.
"He's a great guy, first of all. He's become a friend," said Montini coach Chris Andriano. "I think he's in it for the right reasons. Definitely a good teacher of young men, a good role model."
In his first year after succeeding Bob Cozzi, who passed away in April 2008, Schmidt led the Knights to the 2005 Class 3A quarterfinals. He was offensive coordinator for Cozzi's 2002 Class 3A title team.
With Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state selections Matt Purdom and Anthony Taylor and a physical squad that gained 4,090 yards rushing to opponents' 1,540, this fall Schmidt's Knights were at No. 15 the lowest-seeded team to reach a championship game since No. 29 Glenbard North in 2000.
The 10-4 squad beat Casey-Westfield 36-17 for the title, capping a dominant playoff run in which IC outscored its five opponents 214-67.
Schmidt knew about his promotion at Jefferson after IC's first playoff game but didn't let on because, he said, "I didn't want the playoff run to be about me." He expressed his pleasure working for IC's administration and within the football program.
"I bleed blue and white," he said. "If I had to write a storybook ending to my coaching career it couldn't have been written any more eloquently."