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Cordell leaving Glenbard South

With school board approval taking place a few hours earlier, Glenbard South football coach Jeremy Cordell confirmed Thursday night that he's been hired for the same position at Lincoln-Way Central.

Cordell leaves the Raiders' program after five seasons at the helm, the last four culminating in playoff appearances.

"I'm honored, I'm blessed and I feel privileged to have been the head coach at Glenbard South the last five years," Cordell said. "It's hard to wrap my head around it because it happened so fast. But it's like I told the kids: We created a lot of memories, and that'll never go away."

Cordell had an emotional meeting with his players on Thursday to let them know he'd be leaving Glenbard South for Lincoln-Way Central, which this season made the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Cordell will be the Knights' fourth coach since 2008.

After spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Rockford Guilford, the Rockford East and Illinois State University graduate was an assistant at Glenbard West from 2003 to 2009. Cordell was the Hilltoppers' defensive coordinator the last three years leading up to his hiring at Glenbard South in the spring of 2010.

Cordell's Glenbard South teams went 35-17, including a 10-0 start in 2013. The Raiders won a playoff game and claimed the outright Metro Suburban Conference title in three of the last four seasons.

Hired to teach in the physical education department, Cordell said he plans to be at Lincoln-Way Central as much as he can during the next several months to implement an off-season plan. Cordell will remain at Glenbard South as a department chair the rest of the school year.

In the immediate future Cordell will begin piecing together his new coaching staff and said he'll meet with Lincoln-Way Central's players on Monday.

"It's a great move for our family," Cordell said. "We feel real comfortable and welcome in the New Lenox area. I'm extremely excited for the opportunity. There's tremendous potential there."

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