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Jacobs football coach Mitz steps down

With one month remaining before the start of football practice, Jacobs is looking for an interim head coach.

Bill Mitz, an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer who ranks No. 20 on the Illinois High School Association career wins list, resigned as football coach Tuesday.

Mitz steps down after 11 seasons coaching the Golden Eagles. He was 253-141 for his 38-year career. His 63-48 record at Jacobs makes him the only coach in school history with a winning mark.

"It's time," Mitz said. "I made the decision to step down. I want to thank all my players and my coaches for everything. Circumstances have led me to do this, but I want to especially thank Andy Farrissey, Mike Warren, Bubba Smith, Bob Mackey and Ryan Arndt for coming with me from Stevenson and helping me build this into a competitive program.

"I want to thank (assistant coach) Jim Foote. I want to thank (former principal) Michael Bregy and (former athletic director) Tom Ross for having the faith in hiring me."

Mitz came to Jacobs in 2010 and the Golden Eagles made the playoffs seven of his 11 years as coach. "On behalf of the Jacobs High School Golden Eagles students, past and present, and our surrounding community, we thank coach Mitz for his dedication to our football team over the past 11 seasons. The school wishes him well in his future endeavors," Jacobs athletic director Joe Benoit said in a statement.

Jacobs principal Barb Valle said: "We appreciate coach Mitz's commitment to the Golden Eagles Family and wish him the best as he transitions into this next phase of his life."

Benoit said Jacobs will move quickly to name an interim coach for the 2021 spring season with the first practice March 3. Because of COVID-19, the season was moved from fall to spring and will end April 24. After the season, the school will look for a permanent head coach.

Mitz - 198-98 in 28 seasons at Stevenson before retiring as a teacher - lives in Fox River Grove. His son, Brian, played quarterback at Cary-Grove and helped the Trojans to the Class 7A state championship game, which they lost to Libertyville.

"You might see me in blue and white on the Cary-Grove sidelines helping (Trojans coach) Brad (Seaburg)," Mitz said.

Bill Mitz
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