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By Nick LeBlanc, Mason Monroe & Alex Strang
Dexter’s new head varsity football coach, Garrett Chapel, resigned Wednesday, 22 days after being hired.
In addition to being hired as a football coach, Chapel was also hired as a physical education teacher to fill a vacancy created by Eric Santor when he resigned earlier in the year.
“He got our hopes up and crushed our dreams,” sophomore football player Khalid Dimo said. “In his speech to the team he said that we can win here and we won’t quit. And then he quits.”
According to Superintendent Dr. Chris Timmis, Chapel stated that the cause of his resignation was due to immediate family business. Despite the resignation, Chapel was devoted to the students and players at DHS.
“Mr. Chapel actively pursued this opportunity and showed extreme interest in DHS and our kids,” Timmis said in a statement. “Every indication we had was that Mr. Chapel was fully invested in our players and Dexter. It is unfortunate that we have this sudden change in direction.”
After losing their new coach so swiftly, a multitude of emotions were shown by past and current Dexter football players.
“It’s disappointing that the football program keeps suffering setbacks as it’s trying to move forward,” sophomore varsity football player Alex Mills said. “I’m playing tennis [next year].”
“It’s unfortunate,” junior quarterback George Deljevic said, adding he is still planning to play football next year.
“I saw him recruiting a lot of kids so he seemed really committed to turning the program around, so I was surprised when I heard the news,” senior football player Joey Hiser said.
After hearing the sudden news, the administration at DHS plans on re-starting the process of hiring a new coach immediately.
“We will find a high-quality and committed leader for our football program and our students,” Timmis said. “We firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and this opportunity will lead to a greater future for DCS and our students.”
Chapel had been hired to replace former Head Coach Ken Koenig who was asked to resign in late November.
