Royal leaves legacy at Ferndale.

Written Tuesday November 5th at 4:45 PM

Ferndale will have a new football coach next fall.

Eagles Coach Eric Royal has stepped down coaching the program after coaching at Ferndale for 18 years, 11 years as the head coach.

"After a long and thought out process, I have decided to resign from my head coaching duties at Ferndale after 11 years as head coach. It was not an easy decision, Ferndale football has been a part of my life since I was a 9th grader. From playing my high school football there to coaching 18 consecutive years, 11 as a head coach. It was very hard and I'm gonna miss it tremendously but the time is right for my family and other personal endevours, as we move forward I may look to join a staff if the right situation comes along" Royal texted to me confirming the move.

Royal went 52-50 in his 11 years at Ferndale including a 22-8 mark from 2016-2018. They shared the Blue in 2017 with Avondale and Hazel Park. The Eagles have made the postseason six times with Royal coaching the program.

The Eagles went 6-4 this season falling to Groves in the first round of the Division Two playoffs last week. 

Ferndale had a ton of proven experience this season and getting to the postseason was a huge deal. The Eagles did that winning 10-0 over Utica Ford II in week nine. 

Ferndale will be looking for a new coach but Royal has a ton of confidence in Boys Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Juan Rickman

"I think (Juan) Rickman our athletic director will bring in a great coach who will inject tons of excitement into the program" Royal concluded.

It will be very interesting to see where the Eagles go with their football program and also they have a Co-Op with Ferndale University as well. This will be a very interesting job to watch whoever takes it.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.