GREEN BAY (NBC 26) – WFCA Hall of Fame coach Mark Jonas is no longer the head football coach at Green Bay Preble, according to both the Green Bay Area Public School District and Jonas.
On Thursday, the district sent an email to parents saying Jonas “will not continue in his role as Preble’s head football coach.”
“The Green Bay Area Public School District expresses its gratitude for Mark’s commitment and service to Preble High School,” the district said in an email.
The district declined to comment further.
Jonas worked on the program during the offseason. He said he met with district officials Thursday morning, who informed him he would not be hired as either a coach or teacher at Preble School.
He said he was blindsided by the news.
“I was told the interview and personnel process was confidential,” Jonas said. “I was told there was nothing related to my teaching or coaching that would prevent me from obtaining these positions, but I have no intention of obtaining them.”
Jonas has experience as an English teacher and said he plans to take a teaching job at Preble.
“At the time (I was employed), there were no English teaching positions available,” he said. “Then two (open) offers came out. I applied to both, interviewed at both, and both went to someone else.”
“At the end of the school year, a third issue came up and I applied for it again but never heard of it,” he continued. – As far as I know, it’s still open.
He added that he had not received an explanation as to why he was not hired. He said that earlier in the week, district officials told him to “be patient” and continue with his coaching duties.
He said he was told Thursday morning the district would not hire him as a teacher or coach.
Jonas said he thinks the district’s decision has more to do with his teaching than coaching.
“I just want to make sure people understand that it wasn’t Mark Jonas’ decision,” he said. “It was a Green Bay Area public school decision.”
“If I’m the right person to run an important program like football, deal with kids, counselors, parents and the media… I’m qualified to teach in the classroom,” Jonas continued.
Jonas said he’s disappointed he won’t have the opportunity to host Preble’s show, which he believes has a chance at revival.
“I was really looking forward to coaching these kids,” he said. “Every interaction I have had with the children has been extremely positive. They are a motivated group of kids, they deserve the best and I think they will do well.”
“What’s also hard is that I left a really good situation at Southern Door and moved to Preble,” Jonas added. “If I had known all that, in hindsight I probably wouldn’t have left that situation at Southern Door.”
Jonas said he is currently looking for a job and may have to work outside of sports and education.
“I’m a little embarrassed, I won’t lie,” Jonas said. “I stopped at the post office today because they have a ‘now hiring’ sign up.”
“I don’t know what the next step will be,” he said.
Jonas previously coached at Hilbert, Oconomowoc, Kaukauna, Ashwaubenon and Southern Door.
In 2023, Jonas filed a motion in Door County Circuit Court to prevent a local family from accessing his personnel records.
Jonas said it had to do with his role as Southern Door’s athletic director and he didn’t believe the incident influenced Preble’s decision not to hire him.
The Green Bay Area School District said the program will be temporarily taken over by Brad Boockmeier, a Preble graduate who played college football for the St. Norbert.
“Brad Boockmeier will serve as interim head coach for the 2024-2025 season,” reads an email the district sent to families. “Coach Boockmeier will work diligently to fill the remaining open positions in our football program in preparation for the upcoming season.”
