Prochnow's run at Preble done after 25 years

GREEN BAY - After 25 seasons with Pat Prochnow patrolling the sidelines at Green Bay Preble the Hornets are in need of a new football coach as Prochnow didn't reapply for his position, thus creating an opening.

Prochnow, who retired as physical education teacher this spring, won 173 games during his career, seven conference titles and reached the postseason a dozen times. Recently, however, the Hornets struggled, going a combined 9-18 the last three seasons with no playoff appearances.

This past season, Preble started slow, losing its first five games before reeling off four straight wins to end the season at 4-5.

Preble’s last playoff appearance under Prochnow, who also coached track and field, came in the 2008 season, when the Hornets compiled a 7-2 regular season before losing their postseason opener to Appleton North.

Whoever the new coach is for the Hornets, he will open with two tough games. The season opener is a home game Aug. 19 against Bay Port, which placed second in the Fox River Classic Conference last season, and Game No. 2 is at defending FRCC champ Ashwaubenon.

Prochnow’s vacancy is the second major coaching change at Preble recently. In the spring, girls basketball coach Amy Proctor stepped down after two seasons was replaced by former Freedom girls assistant coach Tom Tomascewski.

Prochnow's departure is the fourth from an FRCC school as Green Bay West, Pulaski and De Pere each will have new coaches for the 2011 season. West's new coach is Jeff Behrendt, Pulaski's is Gary Westerman and De Pere's is Chad Michalkiewicz