Rory Rosenbach has stepped down as the head football coach at Glacier Peak High School to accept the same position at Union High School in Vancouver.
Rosenbach, the only football coach in Glacier Peak’s history, started the program in 2008. In eight seasons, the Grizzlies compiled a 61-25 record, won four conference titles and reached the state tournament four times.
“It was not something that I was looking at or into at all,” Rosenbach said. “I didn’t even know the job was open. (Union) had gone 4A so we don’t follow it as much. The opportunity presented itself to me, it kind of fell in my lap and was something, because of the location – the proximity is so close to my daughter – and with the potential there it was a really good situation.”
Still, Rosenbach said, it was a difficult decision to leave the Grizzlies.
“It was tough. I thought it would be easy. It was tough,” he said. “This is where I grew up. My parents live in the same house I grew up in. It’s my community. To get to come back and be a part of the community was awesome. Thanks to everybody. We’ve had so many great kids and great people. It was really hard. I feel like I may have an ulcer now.”
Glacier Peak was 10-2 this past season, winning the Wesco 3A South championship before falling to Bellevue in the 3A state quarterfinals.
On Tuesday morning, Rosenbach met with the team and informed them of his decision.
“I met with them first thing this morning at 8 o’clock and was able to let them know,” Rosenbach said. “There were rumors. I apologized to them. That’s not how I wanted them to hear about it. I wanted them to hear it from me face-to-face and let them ask questions.”
He also told the players that, as of now, nothing changes regarding their offseason workouts.
“We’re still going to be doing the same things. The offseason program isn’t going to change,” Rosenbach said.
Rosenbach is set to replace Gary McGarvie, who resigned as head coach at Union in early January. The Titans went 4-5 last season under McGarvie, who will remain at the school as athletic director.
Prior to coaching at Glacier Peak, Rosenbach, a 1994 graduate of Snohomish High School, won two state titles in three years coaching at Marist Catholic in Eugene. A former tight end at the Air Force Academy and the Univesity of Oregon, Rosenbach returned to his hometown in 2008 to start the Glacier Peak program.
“Like I said when I left Marist to come here, there are very few scenarios where I could see myself leaving this place. This just happens to be one of them,” Rosenbach said. “It’s kind of the same thing here. I’m very happy at Glacier Peak. Just this scenario, professionally and because my daughter lives there, I’ve got to do this.”
Glacier Peak athletic director Mark Albertine said Rosenbach was the obvious choice to launch the Grizzlies football program in 2008.
“He has a passion for the sport,” Albertine said. “He’s a bright coach and he has a tremendous work ethic.”
Being able to build a program from the ground up was something Rosenbach always wanted to do. Doing it in his hometown made the experience even sweeter.
“That was a huge bucket list thing for me to do in my career,” Rosenbach said. “When the opportunity presented itself at Glacier Peak – what better opportunity than that? To start a program from scratch in your hometown. It’s probably why it’s so hard to leave. This has my thumbprint on it and I’m really proud of what we as a community and group have done.”
Rosenbach said that the highlight of his time at Glacier Peak has been the players he coached.
“There’s so many awesome memories,” Rosenbach said. “I think the two things that I’m most proud of were that we made the state-distinguished academic achievement award every single year. I’m proud that the kids were able to do well in the classroom.
“And I’m just really proud of how the kids, year in and year out, were able to maintain that family brotherhood. I never felt like we really had a senior group that was mean or didn’t care about the younger kids. They were always good to them and mentored them.”
Rosenbach departs for a Union community that reminds him a lot of Glacier Peak. Union is a relatively new high school, having opened in 2007.
“They’ve been a really strong program,” Rosenbach said. “In researching them a little bit, they’re very similar to this community. Glacier Peak has been really strong in almost every aspect of the school since it opened the door and Union is the same way. The band, participation in extracurricular clubs is through the roof. It appears to be a really fun community.”
Albertine said the process to replace Rosenbach will begin immediately.
“There is a process. We’re going to post the position. I will submit for posting today,” Albertine said. “In talking with Jim Dean – our principal – our intention is to get this done sooner rather than later.”
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