LANGHORNE — After just one year on the job, Neshaminy High School head football coach Mike Frederick has resigned.
Citing concerns that a recent change in his job would prevent him from having the flexibility to carry out the coaching duties moving forward, Frederick tendered his resignation in a letter today (Thursday, Jan. 22) to school administrators.
Football team members were informed of the decision during the school day.
Frederick was hired as head coach in April 2014, replacing long-time Neshaminy skipper Mark Schmidt, who guided the team for 19 years and took the Skins to a District 1 championship in 2013.
A 1990 Neshaminy graduate who played collegiate football for the University of Virginia, the Ravens, Titans and Browns in the NFL, Frederick guided Neshaminy to a 4-6 overall record in 2014.
According to Neshaminy High School Athletic Director Tom Magdelinskas, Frederick had returned to Neshaminy with some unique challenges, including the re-alignment of the Suburban One League that put some of the best schools in the same conference with Neshaminy.
A year after finishing in second place in the SOL National Conference, the Skins wound up in fifth place last season with a league record of 3-4.
Eighteen of 22 starters graduated from the 2013 team, and to that end, Frederick focused on player skill development which saw the team improve steadily throughout the 2014 season.
“Mike took on a student-first, player-first philosophy,’ Magdelinskas said Thursday. “He was highly concerned with the emotional and social development of his players. He brought a tremendous amount of football knowledge, having played with some of the best coaches at the collegiate and professional level. He was able to communicate that knowledge in a positive, effective manner to his players.’
Frederick continued to work with players in the offseason, both with college recruitment efforts and actively working with Assistant Head Coach Steve Wilmot on player development.
“He will be sorely missed,’ Magdelinskas said.
Frederick thanked the district, the assistant coaches and the players for the opportunity to coach the team.
A search for a new coach will begin immediately.
Neshaminy isn’t the only team in the SOL National Conference to lose a coach following last fall’s football season. Bensalem head coach Kevin Kelly also resigned after his team went winless (0-7).
Kelly has since been replaced by Ed Cubbage, who guided Truman a season before last.
