O’Rourke resigns as BHS football coach

0

BLANCHESTER — The seven-year run for Jack O’Rourke as the Blanchester varsity football coach has ended.

O’Rourke resigned the head coaching position Tuesday. The job has been posted on the Ohio High School Athletic Association website.

“I enjoyed my years here doing this,” said O’Rourke. “I wish them well.”

O’Rourke said he felt support from the community and administration would not be enough for him to continue.

“Maybe they do need new blood in here … bring a new perspective,” he said.

A 1976 graduate of Blanchester High School, O’Rourke finished his BHS coaching career with a 28-42 record. He had 2 winning seasons in 7, a 7-3 mark in 2011 and a 6-4 record in 2012.

After back-to-back 2-8 seasons his first 2 years, O’Rourke won 7 then 6 games and appeared to have things headed in the right direction.

But the Wildcats followed with seasons of 4, 4 and 3 wins over his final three years. In fairness, injuries have hampered the team’s fortunes over those 3 seasons.

As a player, O’Rourke was one of the best in BHS history. He quarterbacked the Wildcats in the 1970s while his father Jack O’Rourke Sr. was the head coach. Blanchester went 6-3-1, 8-1-1 and 10-0 during O’Rourke’s sophomore, junior and senior years as quarterback.

O’Rourke won 143 games in 30 seasons as a varsity football coach.

Jack O’Rourke has resigned as the varsity football coach at Blanchester High School after 7 seasons.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2015/12/web1_FB2.blan_.orourke.jpgJack O’Rourke has resigned as the varsity football coach at Blanchester High School after 7 seasons. Mark Huber | News Journal

By Mark Huber

[email protected]

Reach Mark Huber at 937-556-5765, or on Twitter @wnjsports.

No posts to display