Skip Stevens Steps Down as Head Football Coach and Takes New Position
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, Michael “Skip” Stevens met with his players for the final time to inform them that he would not be the Head Coach of White Plains High School football next season.
After 11 seasons as Head Football Coach of the Tigers, the Skip Stevens era ended as he stepped down to take a Field Marshal position with the White Plains Public School District.
“It is a position that will not allow me to be the Head Coach any longer. It was a tough decision but a decision that I had to assume for my future right now,” said Stevens, who ends a 15-year coaching career at WPHS and a 31-year career coaching in Section 1 Athletics.
Stevens led the Tigers to the Section 1 AA Championship in 2014 but has had little success the past two years, while sustaining a 2-7 record in 2014 and 1-8 in 2015. The Tigers beat Spring Valley High School, in the final game of the season last year to avoid becoming the only team in WPHS football history to go winless in a season.
Nonetheless, Stevens has ushered many high school athletes to the college ranks over his 11 years as Head Coach and has helped to maintain and fortify the integrity of the Tigers football program, which has existed since 1897.
“I have no regrets, no regrets. Coaching is in my blood and I hope to coach again down the road. I had a good run here at White Plains, unfortunately the last couple of years were a little down but just before that we won a Sectional Title for the first time in over 30 years, no regrets just moving forward,” commented Stevens.
Stevens’ responsibilities in his new position as Field Marshal with the White Plains School District will be to supervise athletic facilities at night and on the weekends. Stevens will also continue his duties as a Volunteer Assistant Coach with the Tigers Softball Team under Head Coach Ted O’ Donnell.
“Skip was here for 11 years and he really built a great football program. He has changed the lives of a lot of children over the years and that is the big picture being a role model for students, teaching life lessons and then football,” said White Plains High School Athletic Director Matthew Cameron. “We will miss him but now we have the responsibility to make sure we get the right person for our players and the football program.”
