Published: Jan. 29, 2014
East names Rondorf next coach
1986 graduate will remain as athletic director until June 30
By NICHOLAS DETTMANN
Daily News Sports Editor
In December, Jeff Rondorf warned the potential hire for the
varsity football coach position at West Bend East about thinning patience among
its supporters.
On Tuesday, he took on that responsibility.
East has announced Rondorf as the school’s new varsity head
football coach and will resign as the athletic director when his contract
expires June 30.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I’m very excited about it. I’m
excited to get back into the classroom. I look forward to the opportunity and
the challenge both jobs present.”
Rondorf spent the last eight years as the athletic director
at East. However, he brings a résumé of football coaching that was hard to
match, Principal Jim Curler said.
“Jeff came in with a passion and a knowledge, the winning
experience no else could match,” he said.
Rondorf coached at Cedar Grove-Belgium in a variety of roles
from 1991-2006. From 2000-05, he was the school’s varsity football coach where
he led the team to three Central Lakeshore Conference championships and three
straight playoff appearances.
Rondorf left Cedar Grove-Belgium just before the start of
the 2006 season to return to East as the athletic director.
Rondorf graduated from East in 1986. Returning to coaching
at his alma mater is just short of a dream situation for him.
“I’ve called West Bend home my entire life,” he said. “I
certainly saw what a successful football program does to a community. I
certainly want that (for West Bend) as well.”
Six candidates, including Rondorf, were interviewed for the
job — all with head coaching experience. Rondorf’s proven record of turning
around a program was what ultimately got him the job.
“Most of them came in knowledgeable with the situation with
West Bend East,” Curler said. “Jeff has that winning experience.”
Rondorf is East’s third varsity football coach in four
years. The Suns enter the 2014 season with 18 straight losses and haven’t had a
winning season since going 6-4 in 2007. The Suns are 1046 since then, with
three winless seasons — all in the last five years.
“There’s a lot of pressure that goes with this but I welcome
it,” Rondorf said. “I have a lot of confidence in my coaching ability.”
“I told the committee, you can’t tell a senior or a senior
parent that it’s going to take two or three years to turn this around,” he
added. “It’s going to have to be done next year.”
Rondorf believes turning the program around as soon as next
season can happen. A reason for that belief is his familiarity with the players
at the varsity, junior varsity, freshman and the youth levels.
“It’s going to be a tremendous help,” Rondorf said. “We’ve
got a lot of great people. We have a lot of talented kids in the youth program
and talented coaches.”
Rondorf, who attended the University of
Wisconsin-Whitewater, wanted to be a teacher coming out of college. As the
athletic director at East, he couldn’t work in the classroom. By becoming the
football coach, he will also begin teaching in the business education department.
“It was the itch to get back into the classroom, to have
that direct impact on children,” Rondorf said when asked why he applied for the
football job. “I went to college to be a teacher. It was something I certainly
missed.”
Cedar Grove-Belgium’s record in 2000 and 2001 was not
available, but the Rockets were 0-9 in 2002. In 2003, the Rockets went 5-5 and
qualified for the playoffs. In 2004, the Rockets were 10-1, losing in Level 3.
From 2003-05, the Rockets were 23-8.
“Priority No. 1 is to get our football players faster and
stronger,” Rondorf said about his first step. “Our strength and conditioning
program has to get better.”
“It’s just another challenge,” he added. “I enjoy
challenges. I was put in a similar spot, turning a program around and turning
it into a successful program. I look forward to doing the same (at East).
“We have a lot to do in a short period of time. It’s going
to take parents, players and the coaching staff to commit themselves.”
Curler said the search for Rondorf’s replacement in the
athletic office will wait. He said the search likely won’t intensify until
early April.
“We have plenty of time to make a decision on that
position,” Curler said.
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