Football: Mark VanderKooi leaving Lincoln-Way West for Lincoln-Way East AD job

Updated: November 21, 2011 1:56PM

Mark VanderKooi, head football coach at Lincoln-Way West the past three seasons, will succeed Dave Brost, who is retiring, as athletic director at Lincoln-Way East, effective next school year.

According to sources, Dave Ernst, a long-time assistant coach in Lincoln-Way District 210, will succeed VanderKooi as football coach at Lincoln-Way West.

Prior to his arrival at Lincoln-Way West, VanderKooi, 39, was athletic director/football coach at Chicago Christian for six years.

“It was a tough decision in a lot of ways to leave Lincoln-Way West, but it was too good of an opportunity to come to Lincoln-Way East,” said VanderKooi, who will spend the remainder of the school year getting acclimated to his new duties at East. “An A.D. can have an impact on all sports. I love dealing with athletics and I’m really excited about the opportunity.”

VanderKooi was one of the Southland’s most successful football coaches the past nine seasons, compiling a 69-25 mark at Chicago Christian and Lincoln-Way West.

He was West’s first football coach, rebounding from a 2-7 mark in the program’s first year to go 8-3 and 7-3 the next two seasons.

The decision to give leave coaching and Lincoln-Way West was a tough one, he conceded.

“I love coaching but I love all sports,” VanderKooi said. “I don’t think you ever lose the coaching bug completely. I’m sure I’m going to miss it. What’s harder for me is leaving the great people and great kids at West. But I’ll always have a little orange (West’s colors) in my wardrobe.”

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