Football coach Bryan Wells resigns at Neuqua Valle

[casey]

Football coach Bryan Wells resigns at Neuqua Valley
napervillesun.suntimes.com/sports/11402809-419/football-coach-bryan-wells-resigns-at-neuqua-valley.html


Over its 14-year history, the Neuqua Valley football program has been associated with several principles.

Behind the stewardship of head football coach Bryan Wells, a tough running game and tough defense have characterized numerous Wildcat football teams.

But after guiding the program through its inception at the beginning of the 1997 season all the way through eight playoff appearances, Wells resigned Monday as the Wildcats’ head football coach.

“(Principal) Bob McBride expressed (in a meeting last Friday) that he no longer had the confidence and trust in me to lead the Neuqua Valley football program and wanted to go in a different direction,” Wells wrote in an e-mail Monday afternoon. “While I steadfastly disagree with Dr. McBride’s rationale and decision, I am willingly submitting to his authority as Neuqua Valley’s principal and stepping down as head football coach effective immediately.”

In his 14 seasons at the helm of the Neuqua Valley football program, Wells compiled a 71-66 record to go along with the eight playoff appearances, highlighted by a stretch of six straight trips from 2002-07.

After missing out on the postseason in 2008 and ‘09, Neuqua Valley returned to the postseason in 2010 and reached the second round before losing to Mount Carmel. The Wildcats also reached the playoffs last fall despite losing their final three games of the regular season and finishing 5-5 with a 33-14 first-round loss to eventual Class 8A state champion Bolingbrook.

Wells led the Wildcats to first-round postseason victories in 2005, 2007 and 2010, but the program has never appeared in a state quarterfinal.

“I want to challenge the young men on the team to remain focused on becoming young men of integrity while fighting daily to achieve the highest goal as a team!,” Wells wrote. “It’s ‘your turn!’”

McBride did not return a phone call seeking comment.

[casey]

Mar 21, 2012 9:42:32 GMT -6 casey said:

“(Principal) Bob McBride expressed (in a meeting last Friday) that he no longer had the confidence and trust in me to lead the Neuqua Valley football program and wanted to go in a different direction,” Wells wrote in an e-mail Monday afternoon. “While I steadfastly disagree with Dr. McBride’s rationale and decision, I am willingly submitting to his authority as Neuqua Valley’s principal and stepping down as head football coach effective immediately.”

McBride did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Ok, so I am not saying I disagree with Dr. McBride's decision but I question why the email came from the pricincipal. Shouldn't it come from the Athletic Director? Think of it like college sports, it sure isn't the school president at U of I who dismissed the football, boys' basketball, and girls' basketball coaches. It was the Athletic Director who stands out and takes the heat (or praise). Why was McBride put in this position?

Also, when I read the article in the Sun today I have to admit that I was surprised that Bryan Wells really aired his greivances in the media. I would have expected him to be more like "After 14 years of running a very successful football program here at the high school, I am making the decision to step aside for personal reasons" Blah, blah, blah. I guess he didn't get the memo that you're supposed to be PC and never complain in the public like that. Though I do give him credit for standing up for himself.

I do not have personal experience with Bryan Wells as a football coach but I will say this I never heard anything positive from the majority of football parents who talked about it. It sounded like there was always bias and nepotism involved in who started and played. A lot of people were not happy with the program.

Also, I find it hard to believe in an area completely rich with football talent (most of these kids have played since Kg and do regular camps, speed training, etc.) that Neuqua has never really put together a true contender for the play-offs. It's always one and done and they should be better than that IMO.

Maybe McBride letting go of Bryan Wells is a wake-up call to all 204 coaches. Just because you have been doing the job forever doesn't mean that the job is yours to keep. Perform or move aside. There's a few other coaches in the district that need to get that message though it needs to come from the AD too. Personally I'd like to see a little shake-up in the district with regard to athletics.

[doctorwho]

Mar 21, 2012 9:55:15 GMT -6 casey said:

Mar 21, 2012 9:42:32 GMT -6 casey said:

“(Principal) Bob McBride expressed (in a meeting last Friday) that he no longer had the confidence and trust in me to lead the Neuqua Valley football program and wanted to go in a different direction,” Wells wrote in an e-mail Monday afternoon. “While I steadfastly disagree with Dr. McBride’s rationale and decision, I am willingly submitting to his authority as Neuqua Valley’s principal and stepping down as head football coach effective immediately.”

McBride did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Ok, so I am not saying I disagree with Dr. McBride's decision but I question why the email came from the pricincipal. Shouldn't it come from the Athletic Director? Think of it like college sports, it sure isn't the school president at U of I who dismissed the football, boys' basketball, and girls' basketball coaches. It was the Athletic Director who stands out and takes the heat (or praise). Why was McBride put in this position?

Also, when I read the article in the Sun today I have to admit that I was surprised that Bryan Wells really aired his greivances in the media. I would have expected him to be more like "After 14 years of running a very successful football program here at the high school, I am making the decision to step aside for personal reasons" Blah, blah, blah. I guess he didn't get the memo that you're supposed to be PC and never complain in the public like that. Though I do give him credit for standing up for himself.

I do not have personal experience with Bryan Wells as a football coach but I will say this I never heard anything positive from the majority of football parents who talked about it. It sounded like there was always bias and nepotism involved in who started and played. A lot of people were not happy with the program.

Also, I find it hard to believe in an area completely rich with football talent (most of these kids have played since Kg and do regular camps, speed training, etc.) that Neuqua has never really put together a true contender for the play-offs. It's always one and done and they should be better than that IMO.

Maybe McBride letting go of Bryan Wells is a wake-up call to all 204 coaches. Just because you have been doing the job forever doesn't mean that the job is yours to keep. Perform or move aside. There's a few other coaches in the district that need to get that message though it needs to come from the AD too. Personally I'd like to see a little shake-up in the district with regard to athletics.

well I knew we had a do nothing AD at WVHS forever now-- maybe we have the same at NV--Don't know them. When a VB coach had to goat WVHS a few years ago, it took the Ass't Superintendent to do the job. Why are we paying HUGE salaries to AD's that produce little ?

[trademf]

As a parent I did not care for his e-mail response and I would hope that NVHS administration responds appropriately.

The www,NeuquaFootball.com site is also down.

Hopefully Neuqua can get a new coach appointed ASAP and get past this on the way to long overdue success.