Quantcast
skip navigation

Shakopee football coach Jody Stone steps down after nine years

By Star Tribune, 11/10/14, 9:31PM CST

Share

Shakopee football coach Jody Stone is relinquishing his duties after nine years to pursue his administrative license.

Shakopee football coach Jody Stone is relinquishing his duties after nine years to pursue his administrative license.

School athletic director John Janke issued the following press release on Monday:

 

After nine years leading the Sabers on the football field, Jody Stone will step down as head coach. “While it is difficult to see a great coach and leader step away, I have such respect for Coach Stone, that I applaud his desires to move on to a new phase of life,” said John Janke, Activities Director.

In 2010 and 2011, Stone led the Sabers in back-to-back undefeated regular seasons. He’s also been the first coach to lead the Sabers in the competitive South Suburban Conference. While it’s been a great career in Shakopee for Stone, he says it’s time to step away. For the next 8 months he will hit the textbooks, taking a rigorous schedule of classes to pursue his administrative license. “It’s hard to determine that jumping off point because I didn’t want it to be in May or at some point when I wanted to pursue that administrative opportunity. There’s never a perfect time to walk away, but I didn’t want to continue if I wasn’t able to make a 100% commitment to Saber football,” said Stone. Stone has an administrative degree from Virginia, where he used to coach and teach, but wants to get his administrative license in Minnesota. “I will be busy taking classes,” said Stone. “It’s another reason why I chose to step away.”

“Nine years is not a lot when you look at the big scheme, but it becomes your life and that’s just what it’s been. It’s been my family’s life and my kid’s life and your season is never over,” said Stone. Stone credits his coaching staff with his successes on and off the field. “There is a quality group of people who have done a lot of things for Shakopee and they give a lot of themselves,” said Stone.

He says he feels confident walking away knowing that the building blocks he and his staff have spent years building will stay in place. “We have a quality group of players that have experience. Our youth association is one of the strongest in the state. Our strength training program is something I have worked hard on,” said Stone. Janke echoes that dedication; “Coach Stone, his entire staff and the Shakopee Youth Football Association have worked hard to improve the entire program and will be able to provide a strong foundation for the next head coach.”

Stone says, despite some sadness from players and members of the community, that next year there will be 18 starters that will return and that the new coach will have a very talented team. The Shakopee School Board will accept his resignation at their meeting tonight and the search has begun for Stone’s replacement.

Related Stories