May 14, 2018 at 12:05 p.m.
Sandstrom to step down as Northern Edge coach
Sandstrom to step down as Northern Edge coach
Kevin Sandstrom informed the School District of Rhinelander on Thursday that he will be resigning from his positions with the district - including his spot on the Northern Edge coaching staff - effective July 7.
In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by the River News, Sandstrom, 25, states he is leaving Rhinelander to attend UW-La Crosse to finish his bachelor's degree in education.
"While it has been an incredibly difficult decision for me to leave Rhinelander, I feel that a degree in education will allow me to deepen my understanding of the field, enhance my ability to work successfully with kids of all ages and help my career prospects," the letter states. "I can't thank you all enough for providing me tremendous support over these past few years. Because of your mentorship, I have discovered a passion that I will carry far into the future."
Sandstrom, who did not play high school hockey and whose only coaching experience prior to taking the Edge job was within the Rhinelander Ice Association youth program, posted a 26-31-2 record in three seasons at the helm. His most successful season was his first year when the Edge, behind all-state forward Katie Detert went 15-8-1 and reached the sectional semifinals.
"It started more as an opportunity to coach my sister (Marie) as well as a team with some established players like Katie Detert and Lindsey Steger," Sandstrom told the River News. "Then I turned out to find an incredible passion for it ... I kind of put education on the back burner the last few years so I could pursue my passion and love for hockey."
Rhinelander AD Brian Paulson thanked Sandstrom for his time and dedication to the program.
"Kevin did a solid job of keeping kids out, keeping kids interested," he said. "He really developed a lot of kid who maybe didn't have as much skill to be able to make his team stronger - not only stronger with the skill - but everybody became stronger with relationships and team unity."
While Sandstrom said he made the decision for personal reasons, the move comes at a precarious time for the Edge which last month renewed it's co-op of Rhinelander, Antigo and Three Lakes high schools for the 2018-19 season despite a projected roster of only nine to 11 skaters between the three schools.
In March, Paulson approached his counterpart at Lakeland Union High School, Don Scharbarth, about a possible merger of the Northern Edge and the Lakeland/Tomahawk/Mercer program, but was turned down due to the Lakeland co-op already having sufficient numbers for the 2018-19 season.
Both sides left open the option of exploring a merger for 2019-2020, when numbers in the Lakeland program are expected to taper.
Sandstrom has gone on record several times stating he is against a co-op of the programs and, in general, an opponent of the downsizing in girls' hockey that has seen participation across the state drop from 34 to 27 teams over the last six seasons.
"We're the last ones on the boat is sinking," Sandstrom told the River News back in April. "Everyone else jumped off a long time ago. Now we're just kind of standing on the mast as the rest of the boat has already gone below the water. I'll stay on that boat as long as I can because I think it's the right boat."
Sandstrom said the uncertain future of the Northern Edge program weighed heavily on his mind as he considered his own future plans.
"I think this program, a year from now, is in the clear for at least a couple of years when you look at what next year's eighth-grade class will be, having potentially four to five players and next year's senior class having one," Sandstrom said. "I think you're setting yourself up for a really solid year. It's getting through this year and making sure a team exists so when those eighth graders come up, they still have a spot to play between Rhinelander and Antigo and not some Northwoods co-op."
Paulson said the search for a new coach would begin in earnest, and added finding a coach as soon as feasible is essential, given the question marks surrounding the roster.
"It's the unknown right now for some of the girls," he said. "Now we have to be sure whoever the next coach is, we can get the girls to believe that person's going to create the same atmosphere and culture that Kevin did to help us move forward."
Sandstrom said he will assist in the transition as much as possible. That includes representing the team at the James Williams Middle School eighth-grade activities fair later this month, running the summer ice program and providing information to the new head coach, if one is hired prior to him leaving for La Crosse.
In addition to his role as Northern Edge head coach, Sandstrom was a teacher's assistant at James Williams Middle School and involved in the district's CHAMPS after-school program.
In his letter, Sandstrom thanked Rhinelander and Antigo high school activities department staffers as well as assistant coaches Brian Bunnell and Chris Frederickson for their support, Rhinelander Ice Association manager Brett Aylesworth for his dedication to girls' hockey and a number of team parents and volunteers.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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