CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A high school football coach in eastern Iowa has stepped down, saying his decision was motivated by concerns over the safety of his players and a hope that the school district would end the season.
Cory Quail, head coach of the Highland High School football team, confirmed his resignation in a Facebook post Wednesday night. In the statement, Quail said he could not continue coaching under the current conditions.
“I tendered my resignation with the hope that it would force the decision to not play another football game this season for player protection,” Quail wrote. “Participation numbers are low, and injuries have accrued. It was not safe to be out on that field last Friday night, and anyone who saw us trying to put receivers in lineman jerseys would agree. That scenario will not change over the course of this year. I will not put our kids in an unsafe place to selfishly build an ego for competition.”
The district announced earlier this week that Highland had cancelled its next two football games in order to evaluate the situation. Superintendent Spencer Lueders said the break would allow time to consider the health and safety of players while exploring ways to still provide them with a meaningful football experience.
Highland’s roster has dwindled to just 13 active players following a rash of injuries in last week’s 40–7 loss to Wapello. With no interim coach named, existing staff members are handling practices and team responsibilities for now.
Despite the cancellations, Lueders praised the resilience of the team, noting that several varsity players volunteered to help with junior high practices this week. He said all options remain on the table, including ending the season or exploring partnerships that would allow Highland athletes to play with another district’s team.
A decision is expected sometime next week.
Quail emphasized in his post that his resignation as coach should not be seen as abandoning Highland. He said he will continue in his roles as a physical education teacher and leader of the school’s strength and conditioning programs.
“To say that I’ve quit on our kids would be wildly inaccurate,” Quail wrote. “We are not going to let this one unfortunate situation define Highland. We will continue to show up and do work for the betterment of our kids.”
Highland is not alone in facing such challenges. Earlier this season, Siouxland Christian announced the cancellation of its entire football season due to low numbers and safety concerns.
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