Dexter High School hires Ken Koenig as football team's fourth coach this year
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com file photo
Ken Koenig was hired to be the next coach of Dreadnaughts, Dexter athletic director Mike Bavineau announced in a press release on Thursday. Koenig is an assistant principal and dean of students at Dexter High School and has been an assistant with the football program in various capacities since 2001.
"His connection with students, drive, knowledge of football, and commitment to students made him the right choice for Dexter," Bavineau said in the release. "This is the culmination of a process that included applications from many coaches in the region followed by an interview process. Mr. Koenig clearly rose to the top of the list through this search."
Koenig is the fourth head of the program in less than a year and the fifth since 2010. Former Saline head coach Mike Glennie resigned from the position in April a little more than a month after taking the job. Glennie told the Dexter Leader the reason he left was that, "the vision to make positive changes within the athletic department that he and I shared was not shared with various members of the community.”
Glennie's resignation was just the latest hurdle in what has been a program in flux since long-time head coach Mike Barbieri was fired following the 2010 season. Brian Baird coached the team in 2011, but resigned in early September following a blowout loss to Pioneer. Ryan Fisher filled in for the remainder of the season on an interim basis. Last year, Barbieri was awarded $10,500 and other perks as part of a settlement with Dexter Community Schools stemming from a grievance filed following his dismissal.
Dexter was 1-8 last season and has never made the the playoffs. The program has had two winning seasons in the past 20 years.
Koenig could not be reached for comment.
Pete Cunningham covers sport for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
Jake
Sat, Jun 22, 2013 : 4:43 p.m.
Coach K was my DC for the 04-05 seasons at Dexter and not only was he an awesome mentor but he was a great coach. That would be the same 2005 that we beat a Mike Glennie coached Saline team that was then ranked top 10 in the state, with two huge defensive stands in the last five minutes. I think things are definitely looking up for the Dreads with this move.
Laura Jones
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.
Wow - give him a chance.
SemperFi
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
Ken Koenig is a fine man, an excellent educator, and knows his football. He is a great choice to lead the young men of the Dreadnaught football team. And he won't give up on these boys by offering some lame excuse of "shared vision". Sports teams in Dexter are doing just fine, thank you. Boys Swimming & Diving finished in the top 4 in the state, Girls Basketball went to the state Championship game, Club Rugby team is playing for the state championship, and Girls Soccer is going for it's 10th District championship in 11 years. Dexter also ranks very high in academic excellence, year after year. Go Dreads!
Hailmary
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 8:32 p.m.
And Football ?
Hailmary
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 11:07 a.m.
On another thought. When I attended Dexter High in the 60's sports and education were a high priority. On any given day you could see pick-up games going on in the community. I hope priorities have not shifted to video games and pudgy kids due to junk food. Dexter folks took great pride in their school athletes and their accomplishments and the dedicated students to academics. I live in the desert out west, don't think that former Dexter alum don't observe what's going on at Dexter in this once proud tradition in athletics.
TheGospel
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 3:57 a.m.
0-9 well again
Tim Hornton
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 12:45 a.m.
"Shoot, them boys is having the time of their lives", there's no reason this Dexter football team can't get their stuff together once they find a real coach.. after this guy is canned. The train is coming soon Ann Arbor and the trail runs right through the city schools, Saline, and finally back through Chelsea. Now man up, shut up, and get in the weight room.
Tim Hornton
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 1:47 p.m.
Yes and I'm an assistant shift supervisor at starbucks, ironic! But with a degree in womens studies, where else am I going to work? Hasn't any watched Varsity Blues either?
TheGospel
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 3:50 a.m.
I three am confused! But I'd like some coffee and doughnuts Tim.
smokeblwr
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 2:48 a.m.
I don't get it.
Chichi
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 12:28 a.m.
Does MHSAA really allow a principal to be the head football coach?
Pete Cunningham
Fri, May 31, 2013 : 2:44 a.m.
The MHSAA does not have a rule against administrators being coaches nor does Dexter Community Schools. Athletic director Mike Bavineau is the girls basketball coach, for example. Certain districts have restrictions on administrators coaching, but that is not a requirement by the MHSAA.
Zach Jerger
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 11:36 p.m.
Another disaster
Laura Jones
Sat, Jun 1, 2013 : 2:45 a.m.
Why?
Hailmary
Thu, May 30, 2013 : 11:35 p.m.
I attended Dexter High in the 60's, oh how the mighty have fallen. At that time whether we won the league title or not no one could say we were not tough to play against in any sport.