Matt Prisk, the only varsity head football coach in Traverse City West Senior High School’s history, has announced his retirement from coaching after a twenty-six year career.  Prisk cites family as his major reason for retirement.  “This was difficult from the perspective of leaving the kids and the program, but I have always told my players that family is first and I need to spend more time with my own right now.”  Prisk and his wife, Kim, have a daughter Anne who is currently at the Naval Academy, running cross-country, and track, and a daughter, Audrey, a junior at TC West Senior High School, who is heavily involved in dance.  “It has become increasingly difficult to spend enough time with family, including my 86 year-old father and two siblings.  In order to have a successful football program, coaches must put in an enormous amount of time and I am ready to direct my attentions to the most important people in my life,” commented Prisk.           

Prisk leaves a legacy that will be tough to match.  Of the 618 schools sponsoring football in the state of Michigan, West ranks thirty-sixth with a 70% winning percentage in regular season play and a 67% winning percentage overall.  Prisk’s teams won seven Big North Championships in the past eleven years and recorded their sixth consecutive playoff appearance in Division I football this season.  Prisk has had numerous players continue to play football at the college level, including a number of them at Division I schools.  In addition, West players have qualified for post-season honors annually at both the conference and state levels.    

Athletic Director Patti Tibaldi says, “I would like to thank Matt for his years of service to West in the coaching realm.  Beyond his success, which has been considerable, I am most appreciative that Matt stressed character, hard work, and family to our athletes.  He has mentored hundreds of young men for over a quarter of a century and his influence went far beyond the football field.  Matt is a wonderful husband, father, and son and I am happy that he will be able to enjoy more time with his family.”

Please contact Traverse City West Senior High School Athletic Director, Patti Tibaldi, at 933-7781