Willems, Warkentin Resign Coaching Positions

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Willems

GOSHEN — Bethany boys soccer coach and 2011 Indiana Soccer Coaches Association District 1 Coach of the Year Hank Willems is resigning after six seasons, the school announced today. A 1989 Bethany graduate, Willems won five consecutive Northern Indiana Soccer Conference titles, three IHSAA sectional titles, and a regional championship during his time at the helm.


Willems, also the school's assistant principal, cites his administrative duties and his family as the driving factors behind his resignation. "I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to work with the boys soccer program at Bethany over the past six years," Willems said in a statement released by the school. "The players have worked extremely hard, and it has been very rewarding to see them succeed. However, at this stage of my life I simply cannot invest the time necessary to keep the program at this level or to grow the program to new heights."

Yoder

Replacing Willems as head coach is a man familiar with the Bethany soccer program: assistant coach Mark Yoder. A graduate of Central Christian (Ohio) High School, Hesston (Kan.) College, and Bluffton (Ohio) University, Yoder has been a Bethany assistant since 2007. In a statement, he said “I look forward to continuing to build and develop Bethany’s soccer program. I have enjoyed the Bethany community and look forward to continuing to be a part of it.”

Warkentin

Also resigning to spend more time with his family is JV coach Marcelo Warkentin, the head coach of Bethany's sub-varsity squad since 2001. “Marcelo has been an exceptional asset to the program—his understanding of the game and kids made him an invaluable part of our team,” said Willems. Replacing Warkentin as the JV coach will be another current assistant, 2004 Bethany graduate Josh Leinbach. The fifth member of Bethany's coaching staff, 1981 alumnus Ron Whiteford, will remain with the program as an assistant.

Leinbach

Willems is optimistic about the future of Bethany's soccer program despite the loss of its two top coaches. "I am very happy to have Mark, Josh, and Ron continue in the program. Mark and I have worked together for five years and he is in a position to not only continue the success the team has experienced, but to take it to levels of new success," explained Willems. "He has a wonderful relationship with the players and is very knowledgeable about the game. In preparation for this change he took on a bigger role this year and is ready to be an exceptional head coach."

Based on last season's schedule, Bethany would open its 2012 campaign Thursday, Aug. 16 at Elkhart Memorial. Stay with Bleeding Bruin Blue throughout the offseason for more updates as conditions warrant.