Metamora, Illinois – Jared Grebner has stepped down as the head football coach of the Metamora Redbirds, concluding a five-year journey with the historical program. On Friday, Grebner submitted his letter of resignation to the Metamora administration and met with the players to deliver the news personally.
Grebner, who took over the role in 2020, finishes with an overall record of 30 wins and 17 losses. His tenure saw the team qualify for the playoffs four times in Class 5A, showcasing his ability to lead the team effectively. Despite resigning from coaching, he will remain with the school as the head of the science department.
“It wasn’t a decision I went through lightly,” Grebner shared. He described the emotional process leading to his resignation, emphasizing his commitment to the players. “Being a head coach is something that you can’t have one foot in and one foot out. You’ve got to be totally invested.” He acknowledged he could not give his full 100 percent at this time.
Grebner joined the Metamora coaching staff in 2002, not long after a celebrated high school career where he was named the Journal Star’s Player of the Year. He became head coach in March 2020, stepping in to replace the legendary Pat Ryan, who guided the team to two state championships.
His path to coaching included navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic during his first season. “Jared was a head coach to start with in a very difficult time in our nation,” said athletics director Jared Hart. “He was dealing with challenges that no head football coaches had ever dealt with during those days.”
Throughout his tenure, the Redbirds qualified for the playoffs in four consecutive seasons, highlighting his success and the development of the student-athletes. In the latest season, the team recorded a 7-4 record, reaching the second round of the playoffs. Grebner’s highlights included coaching his son, Avery, who played a vital role on the team.
As for his future, Grebner expressed uncertainty about how he would spend his Friday nights now that coaching is no longer a part of his routine, saying with a laugh, “I really don’t.” With his departure, the search for the new head coach is set to commence soon. The opening for the 11th coach in Metamora program history will be advertised in the coming weeks, as the Redbirds look to maintain their competitive edge with returning talent.
