WATERLOO - Stan Wienke has coached football for 31 years now. He's a hall-of-famer on the Illinois prep level. And, he didn't get where he is by turning his back on players.

That's why last week's resignation was bittersweet for Wienke, who led Waterloo West this past season. Despite the Wahawks' disappointing 3-6 record on the varsity level, Wienke noticed marked improvement at the program's lower levels - the junior varsity went 5-0-1, for instance.

Wienke would love to oversee West's first playoff appearance since 1991 next fall, but his old home - Tuscola, Ill. - is calling. He has two new grandkids. His wife just got a nursing job in Champaign-Urbana.

A lengthy tenure at West seemed intriguing. But life called an audible.

"We've got personal reasons," Wienke said Wednesday. "It has absolutely nothing to do with football or the school or wins and losses. There was no pressure from the school at all."

Said West athletic director Jeff Frost: "Anytime a coach leaves, you're disappointed. But coach Wienke is doing what's best for his family. We wish (them) the best."

Wienke, also a physical education teacher at West, will teach the rest of this school year in Waterloo before reuniting with his family, which includes former Wahawk quarterback Jud Wienke, back in Illinois.

"It's a negative thing, but it's like I told (the West players), 'Even though I'm not your coach (any longer) I'm still gonna be in the weight room every day," Wienke noted. "I want them to win. Next year … I'm gonna be glad they made the playoffs."

Wienke's resignation means that, for a second straight winter, Frost will search for the Wahawks' next football coach. And make no mistake, West's next head coach will likely have ties to the Cedar Valley.

"We want to get some stability in the program," said Frost. "We're gonna get somebody that's hopefully long-term - hopefully someone that's my last hire as athletic director."

Next year, some West seniors will have their third head coach in three years. Thus, Frost will thoroughly - and swiftly - scour the stack of resumes that has already begun to form on his desk.

West started 3-1 in 2008 before losing three in a row to slide out of playoff contention. Wienke, who isn't sure where or if he'll coach again, said the Wahawks simply need improved strength and roster size.

"You've gotta have more players than we have (34 on the varsity roster), and we've gotta get stronger in the weight room," noted Wienke, who also said his elder son, John, has no plans to transfer from the University of Iowa, where he's a quarterback.

"I don't think we're very far away. It just seemed like the kids needed structure, and when they varied away from structure they needed to be put back in their place. And the kids didn't like that at first.

"But I think we're really close to being a perennial playoff team. I really believe that."

Contact Kelly Beaton at (319) 291-1456 or kelly.beaton@wcfcourier.com

Upon further review

Waterloo West's football records the last five years:

2008 - 3-6

2007 - 5-4

2006 - 3-6

2005 - 3-6

2004 - 2-7

2003 - 5-4

(Note: 2003 was coach John Den Hartog's final year at West. Doug Gee coached from 2004-07. Stan Wienke led West this season).