By Mark Gregory
Editorial Director
@Hear_The_Beard
mark@buglenewspapers.com
After seven years as coach of Joliet Central, football coach Brett Boyter announced Friday he is resigning from his position. Boyter was the second coach at Central since the programs re-split in 2010.
“My wife has an amazing opportunity with her job and it will just not be possible for her to take that job and me continue with football,” Boyter said. It was easier for me to create that flexibility in our schedule and her try and advance her career.”
Under Boyter, the Steelmen won five games, with three of the wins coming this season – including a win over cross-town rival Joliet West. It was the culture that Boyter is most proud of.
“I am proud of what we were able to accomplish as players, as coach a coaching staff and an entire program and we couldn’t have done that without the dedication and support of the players and their parents, the coaching staff and the dedication and the support of the administration. I know all of them will continue to do great things.
“Our guys have a tremendous amount of pride in being a Steelmen football player and we use the Superman logo and that means something special and unique to our program being the men of steel. We have a certain amount of toughness and a certain way we do things. I am proud that we were able to have that culture where it is something special to be part of our program. People may not always see it and it may not have always showed up on the scroreboard, but it will show up when these guys come back as successful husbands and fathers and how successful they are in their careers – that is where that unique aspect will show.”
Boyter said there are aspects of the job he will miss.
“The relationships with the players and coaches and it is a healthy competitive outlet,” Boyter said. “There will be a lot I am not going to miss, but the things I am going to miss are going to be real hard to give up. I feel that way from playing football at Joliet Catholic Academy to college at U of I, to coaching back at Joliet Catholic Academy, to Lincoln-Way and now here. I will miss the heck out of those relationships.”
As he leaves the sidelines, just like when seniors leave the program, the relationships will remain.
“This is the end of the beginning ‑ this isn’t the end,” he said. “We will always be linked together as a program and the relationships we created will always be there. Ten or 15 years down the road, we will be able to sit down and enjoy each other’s company because of what we have gone through.”
Boyter is not leaving Central and will be one of the program’s biggest fans.
“I will continue to support them in every way, shape and form I can. It is only going to keep getting bigger and better,” he said. “Whoever takes over will be able to build on that foundation. It was a great run and who knows what the future will bring with my wife’s job and maybe someday, I can come back and coach with the Steelmen.”