Woodstock North has replaced a head football coach who was there from the start with an assistant who was there almost as long.

Matt Polnow, an assistant coach under former boss Jeff Schroeder for 12 seasons, will take over the Thunder. Schroeder started the program when the school opened in 2009 and stepped down after last season, saying that a change might be good for the program.

I couldn’t be more excited to walk into this situation. (Jeff Schroeder) built one heck of a program.”

—  Matt Polnow

Polnow, 39, worked as offensive coordinator under Schroeder. Schroeder was 52-77 in his 13 seasons as head coach. Polnow was officially hired by the District 200 school board in its Tuesday night meeting.

“Coach Polnow has been an instrumental piece to the football coaching staff since 2010,” North athletic director David Rose said. “He has a vast understanding of the game of football, and the ability to bring the best out of all the athletes. We look forward to seeing what he can accomplish as the new head football coach.”

Polnow, a 2000 Woodstock High School graduate, is thrilled with the chance to lead a program he has been a part of for so long.

“I couldn’t be more excited to walk into this situation,” Polnow said. “[Schroeder] built one heck of a program.”

Polnow, who has taught elementary physical education in Vernon Hills since 2005, earned his bachelor’s degree at Western Illinois University and is working on his master’s in educational leadership.

Polnow played receiver, safety and quarterback at Woodstock and said he had many high school coaches who inspired him to become a coach himself.

Polnow was part of Schroeder’s staff when the Thunder won the Fox Valley Conference Fox Division title in 2011 and got the first playoff win in school history one year later.

“Building relationships with the kids and the other coaches is always fun regardless of what the team did,” Polnow said. “I feel like my best attribute is my ability to relate to the kids. Our goal is to be resilient. There are always going to be ups and downs.

“The mission of our program is to empower ourselves to reach educational and personal potential. I want kids to ask themselves if they’ve reached their potential on a daily basis.”