Written Saturday September 20th at 8:25 PM
Waterford Kettering will not have their football coach for the remainder of the season
Captains Coach Brian Barnes will be forced to step down as football coach of Waterford Kettering as he became the new Athletic Director at Madison Heights Bishop Foley as confirmed by Hometown Life's Brandon Folsom.
Barnes was the head coach for the Ventures from 2016 to 2023 leading them to two Catholic League Prep Bowl titles and an undefeated season in 2022.
Barnes became the new head coach at Waterford Kettering in 2024 leading the Captains to a 2-7 season barely missing out on the postseason. The Captains so far this season is 0-4 and has only made the postseason three times in school history.
Barnes coached Waterford Kettering in their 51-14 loss to South Lyon East on Friday night.
Cullen Conway has been named the interim head coach.
The decision came from the Waterford School District and not Waterford Kettering Athletic Director Allison Sartorius
"I wasn't looking to leave Kettering but someone reached out to me at Foley, it was offered to me and I really couldn't say no. My girls are there, my oldest graduated there, and my wife is the athletic trainer and flag football coach there. I let Kettering know about everything going on and everyone seem to agree to my intentions and Allison understood the decision of putting my family first, I knew it would impact our kids and parents but everyone was supportive and understood this move was about career growth and getting closer to my girls and my wife" Barnes said to Folsom.
Barnes wanted to make this work but the Waterford School District said no with the most likely reason being conflict of interest. "My plan was to work at Foley during the day and travel to Waterford to coach football after school so it wasn't my decision to leave right now, I let our parents know I wanted to finish the season and it wasn't my idea to step away especially with how excited I am of what we were building at Kettering. The scoreboard might not show it but our numbers are really good and we're doing a lot of great things at the youth levels, I couldn't say no to a career step up but I really wanted to finish the season with my kids because they deserve that" Barnes added to Hometown Life.
Barnes leaves Waterford Kettering with a 2-11 record in his 13 games. He will coach football again someday but his focus will be with Madison Heights Bishop Foley in the Catholic League.
The Captains will join Waterford Mott in the OAA in about two months.
Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.
Here is the story from Brandon Folsom of Hometown Life
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