Bureau Valley football coach Joe Schmitt resigns

It's been a week of motion for the Bureau Valley High School coaching staff.

It started with the Storm losing their softball coaches and gaining a new cross country coach and ended with the departure of their head football coach.

Joe Schmitt resigned as head football coach after two years. He is returning to coach football at Annawan-Wethersfield and teach at Wethersfield.

"I have had a great experience at BV and I’m thankful for the opportunity. The decision was incredibly difficult, but Annawan-Wethersfield is home," he said. "The move was a family decision and will enable me to spend more time with my three sons and loving wife. I talk about family first with our players, and this was a time where I needed to put my family first."

The Titans head football position is open with the departure of Brandon Johnston, who has accepted an administrative position in Scottsdale, Arizona. Schmitt will not be in the running for the head coaching position, however, desiring to focus on classroom teaching new subjects in driver's ed and world history.

With the summer season starting up very soon, BV will look to move fast for Schmitt's replacement. It is a position sure to attract familiar faces.

Brian Humphrey, head BVHS softball coach, and his assistant, Brianne DeBrock, both had their resignations accepted at Tuesday's board meeting. Humphrey was head coach a total of 13 years in different stints.

Robert Bench was approved as the new head cross country coach, taking over for Daniel Sinclair, who resigned last month to succeed Jim Nugent as the varsity girls basketball coach.