South Lakes Football Coach Leaving For Job in Minnesota

South Lakes football coach Andy Hill announced on Monday he is resigning from his position.

Hill told players at after-school workouts that he will be leaving to take  a job as a social studies teacher and head football coach at Woodbury High School in Woodbury, MN.

 "Woodbury High School is the school I attended as a student and where I coached for my first two seasons as an assistant coach," Hill said in an e-mail to Seahawk athletic boosters. 

"For me, this was an opportunity to go HOME, and one that I had not anticipated  presenting itself until I was contacted about the opportunity a few weeks ago. ... There  is no other high school position in the country that I would have chosen to leave SL for other than the school for which I played and coached."

Sophomore quarterback Rashaan Jones said "no one was prepared for the news."

"It was really shocking," he said. "But things will happen, and some things you can't control. I feel like [Hill] played a big part in our season because he turned us into a family. Everything was very organized." 

Hill, 32, replaced coach John Ellenberger prior to the 2010 season. He took over  a team that went 5-6 in 2009. The Seahawks started 2009 5-1, then lost five games in a row.

Hill formerly coached at Park View High in Sterling, where in five season his teams made four playoff appearances and earned two district titles.

Under Hill, the Seahawks finished 8-4 in 2010. The team defeated Herndon in the Baron Cameron Bowl for the first time since 2002, and also won a playoff game.

"Coach Hill brought great discipline and creativity to our program," South Lakes Bruce Butler said in an e-mail. "In just a very short time he changed our football culture and expectations. We wish him the best back in his home state of Minnesota."

Hill said the program will be in good hands under assistant coach Marvin Wooten until a replacement can be named.

"While my departure is not ideal, nor is the timing, I must commend Coach
Wooten and everything he has done for our program throughout the past year," Hill said. " He has sat  in on just about every meeting, organized our off-season program, met with teachers and parents, and has helped in every aspect of running our football program.  If  Coach Wooten is named the next coach at SLHS, the program will not miss a beat."

Hill urged boosters to lobby for Wooten's hiring as head coach.

 "I encourage you, no matter how frustrated you are with me, to get behind Coach Wooten and reach out to the SLHS administration to strongly encourage them to hand the reins of the program to Marvin Wooten.  If you talk to your players, I believe they will echo the same sentiment."

Jones said he hopes the school will hire Wooten as well.

"I feel like that would be the best thing." he said. "Coach Wooten coached with Hill last year. They have already discussed what they want to do for the upcoming season.  It would be a lot of work to bring in a whole other coach."

 Several athletic department matters are on hold until a new coach can be hired, Hill said. Including:

*  all spirit pack orders. Checks have not been cashed and can be returned upon request (and will be returned immediately if a coach other than Coach Wooten is named).  

* The Passing Camp will continue under the guidance of Wooten.  Future camps will be determined by the next head coach, with refunds coming for any canceled camps.  

* A planned football fundraiser has been cancelled. 

* Morning (before school) weightlifting sessions will no longer be offered until a new coach is named.   

"I apologize for the disappointment and frustration that my decision will cause," Hill said. "This was not an easy decision.  The unique opportunity to go home - back  to where I was raised, to the school whose jersey I wore when I was a player - along with the financial ability for us to afford a home for our future family led to this  decision.  I love South Lakes and it will always hold a special place in my heart.  I apologize for leaving before all of the work that we set out to do has been completed."