McHenry football coach Jon Niemic steps down after 4 years

McHenry athletic director Barry Burmeister released a statement that football coach Jon Niemic has resigned.

Niemic took over the program four years ago when he was 30. He spoke with Burmeister last week, but the school waited for the announcement until after Cary-Grove, its fellow Fox Valley Conference member, finished the season Saturday in the Class 6A state championship game against East St. Louis.

Niemic’s teams were 8-23 in his four seasons, the best being the 2-2 record in the 2021 spring season.

“First off, I want to say thank you to any of the assistants who worked in the program for the last four years,” Niemic said in his statement. “Any head coach knows that assistants are the core of any program. Thank you to the players, parents, all the community of McHenry for their support and commitment to the program as well.

“Thank you to Mr. Burmeister, who took a shot on a 30-year-old to take over a program in a moment of need.

“All that being said, it is time for me to resign my position at McHenry High School as its head football coach. It’s a personal decision, but it’s the right decision.”

In Burmeister’s statement, he expressed his appreciation for the job Niemic had done.

“We run our athletic program as a family unit. Jon Niemic epitomizes that belief in that he stepped in and took over the football program when we had an opening, led us through a pandemic, handling every situation with passion, character and extreme organization,” Burmeister said. “And then now keeping what he believes is best for his Warrior family and our football program, he is stepping down as head football coach. He is remaining committed to the McHenry Warrior Athletic Department. It doesn’t get much more family than that. I have much love and respect for Jon.”

Niemic, a 2006 Crystal Lake South graduate, was head coach at Sioux City (Iowa) North for two seasons at age 26. He applied for the McHenry job when it opened in the 2015-16 school year. Nat Zunkel was hired, but Burmeister was impressed with Niemic and asked him to join Zunkel’s staff as offensive coordinator.

When Zunkel resigned before the 2018 season, Niemic stepped into the job as interim coach. After that season, the title was made permanent.