Bowling Green’s football program will have a new look next season.
Jeff Cullen, the Bobcats’ head coach for the last seven seasons, submitted his letter of resignation
Wednesday morning.
Rumors of Cullen’s resignation first surfaced Monday night.
The Bobcats were 27-43 overall and 24-25 in the Northern Lakes League during his tenure, including
records of 3-7, 3-4 this fall.
But after going 1-6 in the NLL in his first season, the Bobcats posted a winning record in the league
during four of his final six seasons. BG was 23-19 in the NLL during that time.
“I’m just tired,” said Cullen, who will continue to teach social studies and history at the high school.
“I like coaching football and I’m going to keep coaching football, but it’s time for someone else to do
the heavy lifting.”
In addition to being the head coach and coaching an individual position, Cullen helped oversee the team’s
weightlifting and off-season conditioning programs, and its academic progress.
“All of our coaches work year-round and help with everything,” Cullen said. “Most of it isn’t difficult,
but when you’re doing it in season, being the head coach, coaching your position and preparing for the
next game, it just takes up a lot more time.”
Cullen said he’ll coach again, but next time it will be as an assistant.
“That’s my desire,” Cullen said. “I like the game and the kids have been great, but being a head coach is
a big load.”
The Bobcats finished second in the league twice under Cullen, going 5-2 in the NLL in 2006 and 2007.
“Jeff’s done a great job with us and with the kids, getting them to perform on the field and in the
classroom,” BG athletics director Mike Vannett said.
The Bobcats were 8-12 overall and 7-7 in the NLL the last two seasons. BG had just one winning season
overall under Cullen, that being a 6-4 record in 2007.
Southview has dominated the NLL during the last seven seasons with a 43-6 record in league play, but two
of those losses were to BG in 2005 and 2006. The Cougars have won outright or shared the league
championship in six of those seven seasons.
Anthony Wayne has the second-best record in that span at 27-22, followed by Perrysburg and Maumee at
25-24, BG, Northview 20-29, Rossford 17-32 and Springfield 15-34.
The Bobcats and Springfield — who had the NLL’s top two programs during the 1990s — are the only teams in
the league not to make the playoffs during the last seven seasons.
“We’d like to have someone with experience, a positive go-getter to oversee our entire program,” Vannett
said. “Football, like all sports, has become a 12-month, year-round commitment with weight training,
off-season conditioning and the summer programs.
“We’re looking for someone with extensive coaching experience at the high school level. Head coaching
experience would be ideal, but we’ll consider an assistant coach. We’re keeping an open mind.”
Vannett said he didn’t have a timetable as to when the new coach would be hired, but hoped it would be
“sooner than later … hopefully, by the first of the year.”
Vannett wasn’t sure what teaching openings would be available and how that would impact the search.
| Jeff Cullen |
(Updated Wednesday, 4:20 p.m.) Bowling Green’s football program will have a new look next season.
Jeff Cullen, the Bobcats’ head coach for the last seven seasons, submitted his letter of resignation
Wednesday morning.
The Bobcats were 27-43 overall and 24-25 in the Northern Lakes League during his tenure, including
records of 3-7, 3-4 this fall.
But after going 1-6 in the NLL in his first season, the Bobcats posted a winning record in the league
during four of his final six seasons. BG was 23-19 in the NLL during that time.
“I’m just tired,” said Cullen, who will continue to teach social studies and history at the high school.
“I like coaching football and I’m going to keep coaching football, but it’s time for someone else to do
the heavy lifting.”
Cullen said he’ll coach again, but next time it will be as an assistant.
“That’s my desire,” Cullen said. “I like the game and the kids have been great, but being a head coach is
a big load.”
In addition to being the head coach and coaching an individual position, Cullen helped oversee the team’s
weightlifting and off-season conditioning programs, and its academic progress.
“All of our coaches work year-round and help with everything,” Cullen said. “Most of it isn’t difficult,
but when you’re doing it in season, being the head coach, coaching your position and preparing for the
next game, it just takes up a lot more time.”
The Bobcats finished second in the league twice under Cullen, going 5-2 in the NLL in 2006 and 2007.
“Jeff’s done a great job with us and with the kids, getting them to perform on the field and in the
classroom,” BG athletics director Mike Vannett said.
The Bobcats were 8-12 overall and 7-7 in the NLL the last two seasons. BG had just one winning season
overall under Cullen, that being a 6-4 record in 2007.
Southview has dominated the NLL during the last seven seasons with a 43-6 record in league play, but two
of those losses were to BG in 2005 and 2006. The Cougars have won outright or shared the league
championship in six of those seven seasons.
Anthony Wayne has the second-best record in that span at 27-22, followed by Perrysburg and Maumee at
25-24, BG, Northview 20-29, Rossford 17-32 and Springfield 15-34.
The Bobcats and Springfield — who had the NLL’s top two programs during the 1990s — are the only teams in
the league not to make the playoffs during the last seven seasons.
“We’d like to have someone with experience, a positive go-getter to oversee our entire program,” Vannett
said. “Football, like all sports, has become a 12-month, year-round commitment with weight training,
off-season conditioning and the summer programs.
“We’re looking for someone with extensive coaching experience at the high school level. Head coaching
experience would be ideal, but we’ll consider an assistant coach. We’re keeping an open mind.”
Vannett said he didn’t have a timetable as to when the new coach would be hired, but hoped it would be
“sooner than later … hopefully, by the first of the year.”
Vannett wasn’t sure what teaching openings would be available and how that would impact the search.
When asked if any of Cullen’s assistants would be considered if they applied for the job, Vannett said:
“We have to consider everybody by law.”
