The Bemidji boys hockey team will be under new leadership next winter.
Coach Roger Mischke, who has guided the team the past three seasons, announced his resignation Tuesday, citing "glaring difference with the administration and a general lack of support needed to help the program move forward."
"I feel we have the program turned around and moving in the right direction," Mischke stated, "but these things take time and need the full support of the administration to get the job done."
"I love coaching and had planned to stay with the program the next 15-20 years if things worked out. I have always tried to do the right thing."
He will be joined on the sidelines by his top aide Kevin Williamson who wants to spend more time watching his daughter Hailey play her final season of hockey at Bemidji High.
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Mischke, an officer at Deerwood Bank, is a former Grand Rapids high school player.
He moved up with Williamson from the B Team ranks to succeed Chris Justice in 2006 when Justice resigned after five years at the helm.
Mischke inherited a program that was having problems scoring, a problem that has continued.
He leaves with a 28-49-1 record.
His successor will be the fourth head coach in the program in 14 seasons following John Wangberg (1996-2000 and Justice (2001-2005).
Mischke plans to continue working in the summer hockey program coaching younger players.
He becomes the third varsity coach to step down this year following cross country coach Dennis Bartz last fall and boys track coach John Deden who has gone to Afghanistan with his National Guard unit. Assistant Ryan Aylesworth will take over the head post in both programs.
