27 December 2023
Hobart High football coach Craig Osika, who led the Brickies to a runner-up finish at the 2020 4A state championship, has resigned to focus on his duties as school co-principal and as a dad.
“This is the first year I’ve really felt the strain of doing both,” Osika said Wednesday.
His resignation is on Thursday’s school board agenda.
“My girls are getting older, they’re 12 and 8 and I’m missing experiences. My parents never missed anything that I wanted to do and I want to do the same for my kids,” he said.
His oldest daughter is running cross country and his youngest child is focusing on ballet and tumbling, he said. Both kids enjoy swimming, too.
In six years as head coach, Osika posted a 52-20 record. His 2020 team lost to Roncalli in the state championship game, 49-7.
A 1998 Hobart graduate and former NFL lineman, Osika played for the Brickies before leaving for Division 1 college ball at Indiana University.
“I’ve either been a player or coach for the last 32 years. I make my living as a principal, and football suffered a little bit. My total focus wasn’t on football. It was time to step away,” he said.
“It’s not like it’s August to November anymore. It’s year round,” he said of the football commitment.
He served as a dean of students at the high school and was named co-principal with Colleen Newell in 2021.
His team, which will return several seniors next year, had mixed emotions on losing Osika. “Change is scary for anyone, whether you’re an adult or a kid,” he said.
“Academically, they’re very strong, they’re just a good group, and there’s a lot in the pipeline coming through here,” he said of the future.
He’ll still be their principal, just not their coach now.
“I’m not going anywhere. They’ll see me every day,” he said.
Osika said athletic director Mike Black has posted the coaching opening and interviews will take place after the holiday break.
Superintendent Peggy Buffington praised Osika’s passion and success.
“He coached winning teams, which is always exciting for Hobart fans. More importantly, he shaped the lives of his young players,” she said.
“As one of the co-principals at HHS, his dedication to the students and their successes in life is paramount. He truly makes a difference for our kids, and we are proud of his accomplishments.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
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