The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
SAYING GOOD-BYE: Southern's Head Coach Will Bavery, after Saturday's state quarter-final loss to Kewanee, talks to the underclassmen urging them to continue on with the fine tradition of Southern Rebel football. (Ryan Smith-22, B.Rothzen, B.Garst, G.Lenz, M.Kane, B.Jacob, and others).
Coach Bavery announced his retirement Tuesday, October 22nd saying he has fulfilled his goals including bringing Southern back to a winning tradition.
Bavery has coached the Rebels back to the playoffs for their third consecutive year while also reaching beyond a 200-win milestone (204 wins-95 losses-2 ties).
After 33 years of successfully coaching football starting at Southern and ending at Southern, (including time at Rushville and Harmony, Iowa) Bavery said he has enjoyed his return to "home" and seeing the Rebels become the competitors again he knew they could be. This goal being accomplished, he is ready to retire to his love of hunting and fishing.
He admits the long miles of traveling on a school bus to games weighed heavily into his retirement decision. He's enjoyed the players he's had an opportunity to coach over the years remarking how high school football is different from college and pro because it is played as a unified team. Later, the positions become highly competitive, he said.
From 1967-'87 Bavery coached the Rebels to the playoffs six times with ten Bi-County titles out of his first twenty years at Southern.
April 1989, Bavery was inducted into the Illinois High School Football Hall of Fame for his time and his accomplishments while coaching in the state. Bavery moved to Rushville as Principal and coached a team who had never won a playoff game and helped the Rockets with their 31-5 record with three post season appearances from 1990-92.
Bavery, and his wife Kathy moved back to Stronghurst and he took the job at Revere, Missouri as Principal three years and then at Notre Dame High School in Burlington, Iowa three years.
He then found himself at Harmony, Iowa coaching a struggling football program.
After Southern was discussing co-oping football and even dropping it after several unsuccessful years, Bavery offered to coach again, taking a cut in pay to do so.
His goal was to give the Rebels pride and confidence and to return them to the power house they once were. While doing so, Bavery was able to reach his personal goal-his 200th win.
"It was especially fun working with the kids of players who played for me the last few years," he said.
Bavery said it is best when a coach comes from within the school and has daily contact with students.
"I probably wouldn't have come back if former players hadn't talked to me. I have lots of interests but, I have really enjoyed doing it. Southern's going to have a good year next year. We've taught kids how to play the game and they do it well."
Bavery, who will be attending future Rebel football games, said, "I'll always be their biggest fan, :unless, I find a fantastic diet."