The Daily News

At the Wednesday meeting of the Wahpeton School Board, it was announced Activities Director Mike McCall will resign his position as head Huskies football coach.

The school board unanimously accepted McCall’s letter of resignation.

McCall, who has coached the Huskies for the past seven seasons, will retain his duties as activities director at the school.

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"We're getting ready to host six regional tournaments here in the next year and a half. That's very time consuming, along with all of my other administrative duties," McCall said. "It's a time thing. I've been thinking about this for a while now.”

The Huskies' football season ended Saturday in the North Dakota state semi-finals when the No. 1 ranked Huskies lost to Devils Lake 28-21.

“It has nothing to do with the game last week,” McCall said. “It was just the right time."

McCall coached the Huskies for seven years and compiled a record of 50-24 as Wahpeton's head coach.

Superintendent Mike Connell said the search for a new head coach will begin immediately.

"We'll advertise the position internally to see if there is any interest," Connell said. "We would like to get this position filled by spring, if possible."

Wahpeton played in class AAA for football in six of McCall's seasons.

The Huskies dropped to AA this year.

"I think Mike did a tremendous job of coaching," Connell said. "Especially when you consider the level of the competition. His record speaks for itself and we'll miss having him as the head coach."

McCall said that he is looking forward to spending more time with his family.

"Football coaching is very time consuming. I have a kid who is going to be a freshman and another who will be in sixth grade," McCall said. "I think last year I was able to see maybe two eighth grade games and maybe one or two fifth grade games. So I will get a chance to see more of their games next year.”

Comments

concerned wrote on Nov 24, 2009 10:23 AM:

" Someone who witnessed it, should report that breck youth bb coach for unsportsmanlike conduct. Many people heard about this. Volunteer or not, we expect the coaches to be good examples to the youth. "




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JP wrote on Nov 24, 2009 9:45 AM:

" Don't be fooled critics if you were in a coaching position and your kid was in that program you could not help to show favoritism to your own kid if he or she was as good as a player. "




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P wrote on Nov 23, 2009 3:26 PM:

" Booster Club Members should promote the sports and coaches - not tear them down by gossip. "




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we saw it too wrote on Nov 21, 2009 11:20 AM:

" We know what you are talking about!
We witnessed the most unsportsmanlike conduct by a Breck youth coach at a bb tournament in Wahp. on Sat. She was constantly yelling at the reffs & complaining to everyone! These young reffs should have turned to her & given her a "TECHNICAL FOUL!"
We too, admire the coaches who keep their cool, & realize that they are working with children. "




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OH REALLY wrote on Nov 20, 2009 8:50 PM:

" @WHS booster club member: You don't sound like much of a booster at all. You sound like you want to create scandal, doubts and gossip. Why exactly are you a booster club member?? "




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its not easy wrote on Nov 20, 2009 9:51 AM:

" Coaching is not easy. I applaud those coaches that can keep their cool.
We were at a youth bb game & witnessed one of our bb coaches completely lose their cool in front of many youth & parents. We are breck fans, and we were shocked by this display. Good sportsmanship is more important than winning. "




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WHS booster club member wrote on Nov 19, 2009 8:54 PM:

" What you don't know may be a good thing. "




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new to this school wrote on Nov 19, 2009 5:36 PM:

" We are new to this school, & in our first 3 months we have heard many good comments re: the Huskies FB program. We are happy for him that he us able to put his family & AD position first. Our child is benefiting from the friendship of his children(they, too, are awesome) and for that, we are very thankful. "




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Peterson wrote on Nov 19, 2009 1:17 PM:

" It has nothing to do with coaches' kids - take a look at Ben Fink coaching his daughters. It all comes down to the kids playing well individually and as a team player. McCall just has too much going on as the AD, the FB coach, and then to be there for his family. He put his family first - more parents should follow the exampls. "




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whap resident wrote on Nov 19, 2009 12:02 PM:

" People need to realize that good coaches are NOT a dime a dozen!! Some of this communities parents should be ashamed at how they act and treat all our coaching staff! "




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wait and see wrote on Nov 19, 2009 10:53 AM:

" Unless your the coaches kid, then
your guaranteed to play and yes I will
apply for the job! "




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Too Bad wrote on Nov 19, 2009 9:19 AM:

" It seems he had built the program up to more than a 1 year wonder. It wasn't too long ago that the teams put on the field were poor nearly every year, but the Huskies were competitive in the big class before the move to Class B and he did a great job. Good luck in the future coach. Any of the critics applying for the job? "




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just a football fan wrote on Nov 18, 2009 8:28 PM:

" I am saddened to see Coach McCall leave. I know many parents who are not impressed with him but he has an outstanding 7 seasons and the reason that is is because he builds a team to win. All the parents that complain that thier kid doesn't get to play as much, there is a reason why your kid doesn't play as much. Gone are the days that "everyone gets to play" this is high school fighting for state! "




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WHS Graduate wrote on Nov 16, 2009 1:56 PM:

" I am happy for McCall, but really sad for the Wahpeton football program. I think he did a great job of building the program up & think that anyone that follows him will have big shoes to fill. "




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whapeton wrote on Nov 13, 2009 9:35 PM:

" It's A GOOD THING!! "




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