WEST LOOP — Tim Franken, the football coach for Whitney Young Magnet Academy High School, resigned Tuesday after the selective enrollment school canceled the remainder of its football season last month.
Principal Joyce Kenner confirmed the resignation and said the school will accept applications for the head coaching job through Nov. 10. Kenner said she hopes to select Franken's replacement before Thanksgiving.
Franken will remain a physical education teacher at Whitney Young.
The Chicago public school canceled its final three games, including the scheduled Sept. 28 homecoming game, after the lack of eligible players left the team without enough players to comply with Chicago Public School requirements.
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A soccer game served as the school's homecoming game instead, and football players were honored during the pep rally that week along with other senior student athletes.
Kenner said last month football would be back at Whitney Young for the 2018-19 school year with some "major changes," but declined to give specifics.
A drop in football players has been an issue not just at Whitney Young, but at high schools nationwide as concern grows over the risk of brain injury in contact sports, Kenner said.
"Parents are afraid to allow their children to play, and students are choosing other sports," Kenner said.
