Football: Bill Ellinghaus named Neuqua Valley coach

Updated: April 19, 2012 12:00PM

Neuqua Valley officially named Bill Ellinghaus head football coach on Thursday.

Ellinghaus has been the Wildcats’ offensive coordinator since 2004.

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity,” Ellinghouse said in a statement. “I have enjoyed working with the kids in the community that have such enthusiasm for not just football, but for all sports. I am very proud of the student athletes and their accomplishments at Neuqua.”

Despite losing their final three games of the regular season last year, the Wildcats earned a postseason berth before seeing their season conclude at 5-5 with a 33-14 first-round loss to eventual Class 8A state champion Bolingbrook.

The Wildcats won first-round postseason games in 2005, 2007 and 2010, but the program has never appeared in a state quarterfinal.

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