After six seasons, the last two boasting league championships, varsity football head coach Mike Johnson recently decided to step down from the Franklin football coaching staff to take on a more family oriented role.

Putting family first, Johnson has decided that right now his kids need him more than the team does.

Not being there for his children is not what his family needs now.

“My own kids are at that stage now that my coaching is starting to affect their lives,” said Johnson.

The football players of Franklin understand and respect Johnson’s decision to step down. Johnson’s decision is something the athletes regret, because they will no longer have him as their football coach after school. Yet it is not like Johnson is leaving the campus, and he will still be here as a mentor to current and future student athletes.

Junior Javier Padilla gives insight to how the athletes feel about Johnson’s decision.

“Yeah, I would want him to be here next year, but I do understand why he is leaving,” said Padilla.

The new coach has not been found to this point. How the change in coaching staff will affect the team as a whole is difficult to foresee.

It is less likely that there will be any major changes in how the football team is run if the new head coach is hired from within the currently existing coaching ranks.

“In my opinion it could be almost status quo, or it could be a complete overhaul,” said Johnson.

Many things are likely to go unchanged if one of Franklin’s current coaches is selected as the new head coach.

Because our team is already doing well, there would not need to be changes other than to keep up what is already being worked on.

Another factor is how quickly a new head coach is hired. Serious problems could arise if the new coach is not hired until late into the school year.

However, this should not be a problem, as coaches have already started signing up for the position. Also, interviews of the applicants will begin shortly after Christmas.

“Current football players will know who the new coach is by the start of third term,” said Johnson.

It is difficult to foretell how the football team will do next year. But, based on how quickly the coaching issue is being confronted, hopes for next year’s varsity football team are high.