After six years as head football coach at Hamilton High School, Phil Koops has stepped down and accepted the head football coaching job at Montague High School.
“After six years of leading the Hamilton Hawkeye football program, it has become clear to me that it is time for me to move on to another town and another challenge,” Koops said.
Hamilton made the playoffs last year, the second playoff appearance under Koops, who confirmed his exit with The Sentinel.
“I am proud of what progress we’ve been able to make here over the last six years,” Koops posted. “Participation numbers, program alignment, winning percentage, equipment, fundraising, community support and buy in are all in a better place now than in 2019. Our coaching staff was a huge part of that.”
More: Hamilton’s resurgent football season ends with loss to No. 1 Unity Christian
More: Zeeland West football coach John Shillito retires after fifth state title
Koops said his vision for the program has not aligned with “key-holders” at Hamilton.
“I am not leaving because of the players, the parents, the coaches or the high school staff,” he said. “All of those people have done what they could to help. I am leaving because I have a deep need to pursue teaching and coaching at a place where football is institutionally celebrated and not just tolerated. That is my motivator. … So after six years of trying to convince the key-holders at Hamilton how important football is to this community and what kind of supports are going to be needed to compete for championships in the OK Conference and the MHSAA Division 4 playoffs, it has become clear that we aren’t aligned, so it is time to go. I want to be clear, no one here is a villain, we just don’t share a similar view on high school athletics.”
Hamilton football coach Phil Koops has stepped down.
It is a bittersweet moment for…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/hamilton-football-coach-phil-koops-194842024.html
Author : The Holland Sentinel
Publish date : 2025-03-05 19:48:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
