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Dave L’Huillier steps down as Marquette Redmen head football coach

Marquette Senior High School football coach Dave L’Huillier directs players during a preseason practice in August 2015. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Dave L’Huillier has stepped down as varsity football coach at Marquette Senior High School.

L’Huillier spent nine seasons at the Redmen helm, compiling a 44-40 record, two Great Northern Conference championships, five consecutive MHSAA playoff appearances and one playoff win.

In a phone interview on Monday, MSHS athletic director Alex Tiseo said L’Huillier cited personal reasons in the decision.

“It was Dave’s decision and he felt it was time to step away from coaching,” Tiseo said. “It was a personal decision and one that he made on his own.

“MSHS is lucky and fortunate to have had Dave L’Huillier as our varsity football head coach, who had a long and improving track record and saw a lot of success. He helped bring multiple conference championships and playoff appearances and provided a fun, exciting and positive football experience for MSHS students and fans.”

Marquette Senior High School football head coach Dave L'Huillier, in gray, advises players on how to stay focused when exhaustion sets in during an August 2017 preseason practice. (Journal photo by Rachel Oakley)

Tiseo said a search will be conducted for L’Huillier’s replacement in the coming weeks. All applicants as well as current assistant coaches will be considered.

“We’ll for sure take a look at our current assistants, but it will be an open search which will include all interested candidates,” Tiseo said. “We’re looking for someone with the right fit for our athletics department, and can provide a fun and positive long-term football experience for our students and fans.”

L’Huillier took over a Redmen team that went winless in both 2008 and 2009, going 0-18 over those two seasons and were on a 19-game skid dating back to 2007.

In his first season as head coach in 2010, L’Huillier guided the team to an 8-3 record, its first winning season and playoff appearance since 2001, and also earned its first playoff victory in program history, going on the road to defeat Bay City John Glenn 63-22.

Despite falling at home the following week to Cadillac in the district championship game 28-0, the Redmen returned with more success in the 2011 season, going 7-3 and claiming its first GNC championship since 1976 before falling in the playoffs 45-21 to Fenton.

MSHS had three more winning seasons in 2012, 2013 and 2014, making the playoffs each of those seasons but failing to win in the first round.

The next four seasons were a rough stretch, however, ending the five-year playoff run in 2015 with a record of 3-5, before going 1-8 in 2016.

Both 2017 and 2018 saw records of 4-5, making it a record of 12-23 over the last four years.

Despite the record over those seasons, the Redmen claimed a share of the GNC title in 2018 with Escanaba, both going 3-1 in the league.

Football isn’t the only coaching vacancy at MSHS. The school is also seeking a varsity baseball head coach.

Tiseo said the same process will be conducted for the baseball vacancy, and both positions will be announced when those processes are completed.

Email Ryan Spitza at sports@miningjournal.net.

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