Waukegan's Dewitt officially resigns

Updated: March 22, 2011 3:54PM

Waukegan football coach Derek Dewitt has officially resigned from his position and been replaced by Waukegan alum Nick Browder, who will be interim head coach.

That's the word from the school-district's public information officer, Nicholas P. Alajakis, who went on to report that the "interim" title will be voted on by the School Board at its July 27 meeting.

The plan is for Browder to complete the season at the team's helm and for the interview process to begin all over again thereafter.

The move comes 27 days before football practice officially begins and 44 days before the first game. He is the team's third head coach in as many seasons.

Dewitt replaced Pat Jennings as head coach last season after serving as an assistant on Jennings' staff.

Dewitt, formerly head coach at Trinity International University in Bannockburn, will reportedly take a job in his native Texas.

After spending one year as a substitute teacher in the Waukegan school system, he was hoping to get a better job in the district that included health insurance benefits for him and his family.

The district made an offer to him Tuesday, but it was apparently insufficient and did not include the coveted health insurance.

Although Dewitt had teaching credentials and a master's degree, those Ohio credentials did not meet Illinois standards. In the year he was employed at Waukegan, those credentials were never upgraded to meet necessary standards.

Dewitt leaves the Waukegan program with a 1-8 record in his lone year as head coach.

Browder, 35, addressed the team Thursday and informed its members of the change in leadership.

The 1993 graduate of Waukegan High is a former quarterback for the Bulldogs. He was team MVP in football, played for a conference championship team in basketball and also played baseball. He earned a football scholarship at Valparaiso University where he had a stellar college career. He also played eight seasons in the Arena Football League as a quarterback.

He has a longtime connection with Jefferson Middle School, was a volunteer quarterback coach under Pat Jennings at Waukegan High and was the offensive coordinator last season under Dewitt.

Browder was assistant athletic director under former athletic director Dave Perkins before the assistant position was eliminated via budget cuts. He is currently employed in the district.

Attempts to reach Browder were unsuccessful.

"I think he really knows what he's doing," said three-year varsity starter Frank Pettis, a senior defensive back. "He's really smart, especially when it comes to the offense. I think they made the right coaching decision putting him in charge." PREP FOOTBALL

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.