After five years at the helm of Iola High School’s football program, Rick Horton resigned. The USD 257 Board of Education accepted Horton’s resignation at its meeting Monday night.
Horton took over the head coaching duties in 2007. The Mustangs were 15-31 overall in his five years, including a 7-3 2008 season in which Iola reached the first round of Kansas Class 4A football playoffs. The 2008 playoff run marked the first time Iola had made to the postseason since 1984.
The 7-3 mark was the best Iola football single season since a 9-2 run in 1983. Iola had gone to the playoffs in 1982, 1983 and 1984 under then head coach Pat Lonergan.
Horton’s teams had two 3-6 seasons, went 0-9 in 2010 and 2-7 this fall.
Iola went 4-2 and finished fourth in the Southeast Kansas League in 2008. The Mustangs were 2-5 in league play in 2007, 2-4 in 2009, 0-7 in 2010 and went 1-7 in the 2011 campaign, which was Iola’s final run in the SEK.
Iola moves to the Pioneer League next year.
Horton, who came from being an assistant football coach at Highland Park High in Topeka, is still teaching physical education at Iola High. He is the IHS and Iola Middle School assistant wrestling coach and is the Iola High golf coach.
The board took action Monday following an executive session dealing with personnel matters.
