Kos takes over at Fenton

Fenton's search for a new football coach attracted more than 50 applicants.

In the end, though, the Bison decided the best choice was already in the building.

Veteran program coach Mark Kos was named Fenton's head varsity football coach on Tuesday and replaces Mark Farrell, who resigned due to personal reasons after four years at the helm. Fenton athletic director Mike Chappell said Farrell will remain a coach in the program.

"You want to transition as easily as possible, but it also has to be the right fit," Chappell said. "This is a great fit. Mark knows all the players, all the coaches."

Kos, Fenton's assistant athletic director and a social studies teacher, is a 1995 graduate of Palatine who played tight end on Joe Petricca's Class 5A runner-up team in 1994.

After beginning his coaching career at Schaumburg, Kos came to Fenton eight years ago. He's spent time as the Bison's freshman coach, sophomore coach and was varsity offensive line coach for a year.

"As a coach this is a goal I've had," Kos said. "You want to lead your own program and try to achieve the vision you have for the program. I want to make Fenton football the event in the community on Friday night."

With stability remaining in the coaching staff, don't expect mass changes for a team that's the defending co-champion in the Metro Suburban Conference and has qualified for the playoffs in four of the last seven seasons.

"We're not reinventing the wheel," Kos said. "We're just trying to take that next step with the program."