MENDOTA – A new head coach will be roaming the sidelines for the Mendota Trojans next season after Brock Sondgeroth submitted his resignation on Oct. 26.

Sondgeroth has coached football at MHS for 16 years, the last six years as the head coach. He compiled a 14-41 record over those six seasons.

Mendota made the playoffs one time in Sondgeroth’s tenure when the 2014 team posted a 6-3 record and finished tied for second in the Big Northern Conference with a 5-2 mark. The Trojans were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by Coal City.

The final three seasons have been the toughest to endure when Mendota had three consecutive 1-8 campaigns.

“I've contemplated this decision for a long time,” said Sondgeroth. “Coaching is brutal on your stress levels, especially when you are not winning.

“I'm my own worst critic, and nothing anyone can say to me will make me feel worse than my own thoughts about myself. When I was told the school most likely didn't want me back as coach I figured I would make it easy on them and resign.

“I love Mendota – it's home to me. I love my players and will miss coaching them more than anything. I want to see them succeed and make the playoffs and maybe a new coach can get them there.”

Sondgeroth said at this stage in his coaching career he will welcome a break, but he would not rule out a return to the game in the future.

“I know one thing for sure, I might not have been the winningest head coach, but all who played for me know I cared for them,” he emphasized. “My best memories are when players had success on anything we worked on, and seeing them get excited over doing something good was the best.

“Overall there are many great memories, so many players, all the coaches, everything about the game. I'll miss it all.”

Sondgeroth’s resignation will be formally presented to and acted on by the District 280 Board of Education at its next meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16. After that, a search will begin for a new head football coach.