By MIKE ECKERT
GLEN LAKE -- Bill Hollenbeck won't be roaming the Glen Lake sidelines this fall.
The longtime Lakers football coach stepped down from his position early this week after spending 23 years with the program.
"I spent the last year evaluating things, and I decided this was taking a lot of time from my family and the things I like to do," Hollenbeck said. "I was in the weight room three days a week. It got to be tiring."
Hollenbeck coached the Lakers from 1983-2001. After taking three seasons off, he returned to the program in 2005 and guided Glen Lake for four more campaigns.
"There is not one coach on our staff that works harder at their craft than Bill," Glen Lake athletic director Paul Christiansen said. "Football coaches are unique because their sport is definitely a year-round job. He was unbelievably organized, he did everything with first class and always represented the school well."
For his career, Hollenbeck was 159-72. He won a state championship in 1994, was the runner-up 1996 and led the Lakers to five Northwest Conference titles.
"For sure, the state championship was a great year and we had a wonderful group of kids on both sides of that," Hollenbeck said. "(I've always appreciated) spending time with the kids and seeing their growth. And seeing them achieve things they didn't think possible."
What has also been memorable for Hollenbeck is seeing former players succeed in life.
"Nothing has been more rewarding for me than when someone from years back tells me what they're doing in life and credits football as a reason they achieved their goals," Hollenbeck said.
Hollenbeck was voted into the Michigan High School Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Coaches Association's Hall of Fame in 2004.
"He has been the program," Christiansen said. "We would not have had the success we've had over the years ... it's due to Bill."
When Hollenbeck returned to the Lakers, they finished with a 15-21 record.
"The second time we were not as successful as we would have liked to have been," Hollenbeck said. "The kids have a lot of now and the challenge is getting kids out. I believe we were as successful as we could have been with the kids who came out."
Now, Hollenbeck will turn his attention to his private life.
"My third grandchild is on the way," Hollenbeck said. "We're not here forever. It's time to stay close to home and embrace the people I have."
He also plans on taking some hunting trips, including an elk hunt this fall with his son.
Glen Lake will be looking to replace Hollenbeck as soon as possible. Christiansen said the district must first post the opening internally. If no candidates are found, a search committee will be organized and public applications will be accepted.
"As for a time frame, I'd like to finish it in a pretty quick manner," Christiansen said. "In a month to six weeks, I'd like to have a football coach in place."
