Gene Mitz Calls It Quits
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
SYRACUSE - After 34 years, Gene Mitz retired from coaching football Tuesday.
Mitz has spent the last five years as head coach of the Wawasee Warriors. Mitz, who coached 19 years at the college level and spent 15 more years coaching high school, will remain the dean of students at Wawasee High School.
Mitz's career high school record is 57-83, and he was 15-33 at Wawasee, including the 4-6 record that he posted in the past year. He has spent time at all levels of college coaching from the Big Ten (Northwestern) to junior college (Triton Junior College). He also coached at Drake, North Park College, Ball State, Southwest Missouri State and Rose-Hulman. At the high school level, Mitz began his coaching at Niles North High School in Illinois in 1964 and has also coached at Proviso West, Proviso East, Dundee and Wawasee.
"The athletic program can look back at five years of a dedicated effort that Gene's given," Wawasee athletic director Mary Hurley said. "We've made strides in numbers of kids participating in football, the improvement of our middle school program, and our camp opportunities.
"Through his efforts we have a well-organized parent's program who have made major contributions to the football program," she said. "Gene has also meant a lot to our student athletes on an individual basis."
Mitz made this decision long ago and was ready when the season came to an abrupt end after a 15-14 upset loss to South Bend LaSalle in the sectional opener.
"I had a plan when I came here," Mitz said of his decision to retire. "I made the specific decision this summer. After 34 years in the business, I'm ready. This was an exceptional group of young men that I had to coach this year.
"At the point me and my wife are at in our lives right now, we want to enjoy fall," he said. "With eight years as a player in high school and college and 34 years as a coach, that's 42 years in football. I'd like to find out what fall weekends are like without football."
If there is one thing opposing coaches comment on about Mitz, it is often his relationship with his players. More than being a coaching strategist or an X's and O's type of guy, Mitz was known for his interaction with his players.
"I'd like to leave 34 years of coaching behind being known as a players' coach," Mitz said. [[In-content Ad]]
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SYRACUSE - After 34 years, Gene Mitz retired from coaching football Tuesday.
Mitz has spent the last five years as head coach of the Wawasee Warriors. Mitz, who coached 19 years at the college level and spent 15 more years coaching high school, will remain the dean of students at Wawasee High School.
Mitz's career high school record is 57-83, and he was 15-33 at Wawasee, including the 4-6 record that he posted in the past year. He has spent time at all levels of college coaching from the Big Ten (Northwestern) to junior college (Triton Junior College). He also coached at Drake, North Park College, Ball State, Southwest Missouri State and Rose-Hulman. At the high school level, Mitz began his coaching at Niles North High School in Illinois in 1964 and has also coached at Proviso West, Proviso East, Dundee and Wawasee.
"The athletic program can look back at five years of a dedicated effort that Gene's given," Wawasee athletic director Mary Hurley said. "We've made strides in numbers of kids participating in football, the improvement of our middle school program, and our camp opportunities.
"Through his efforts we have a well-organized parent's program who have made major contributions to the football program," she said. "Gene has also meant a lot to our student athletes on an individual basis."
Mitz made this decision long ago and was ready when the season came to an abrupt end after a 15-14 upset loss to South Bend LaSalle in the sectional opener.
"I had a plan when I came here," Mitz said of his decision to retire. "I made the specific decision this summer. After 34 years in the business, I'm ready. This was an exceptional group of young men that I had to coach this year.
"At the point me and my wife are at in our lives right now, we want to enjoy fall," he said. "With eight years as a player in high school and college and 34 years as a coach, that's 42 years in football. I'd like to find out what fall weekends are like without football."
If there is one thing opposing coaches comment on about Mitz, it is often his relationship with his players. More than being a coaching strategist or an X's and O's type of guy, Mitz was known for his interaction with his players.
"I'd like to leave 34 years of coaching behind being known as a players' coach," Mitz said. [[In-content Ad]]