Longtime MDI Football Coach Shields Steps Down

Longtime MDI High School football coach Mark Shields is stepping down after 15 years of running the Trojans program.

Shields was an assistant coach under George 'Toogie' McKay for seven years before taking the head coaching job in 2003.

MDI was Class C North champs in 2016 and regional runner-up this past season. His teams have been in the playoffs for 12 straight years. Shields is a three-time conference Coach of the Year.

​ ​“For​ ​me​ ​it​ ​was​ ​all​ ​about​ ​the​ ​relationships​ ​with​ ​the​ ​kids​ ​more​ ​than​ ​the​ ​wins​ ​and​ ​losses.​ ​​ ​It​ ​has been​ ​a​ ​true​ ​honor​ ​coaching​ ​for​ ​this​ ​amazing​ ​school​ ​and​ ​community.​ ​​ ​I​ ​have​ ​made​ ​some​ ​lifetime friendships​ ​with​ ​players,​ ​coaches,​ ​families​ ​and​ ​community​ ​members​ ​that​ ​I​ ​will​ ​cherish​ ​forever. The​ ​only​ ​advice​ ​I​ ​would​ ​give​ ​to​ ​fellow​ ​coaches​ ​is​ ​love​ ​your​ ​players​ ​more​ ​than​ ​you​ ​love​ ​the scoreboard.​ ​​ ​At​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the​ ​day​ ​it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​only​ ​thing​ ​that​ ​truly​ ​matters.” - Mark Shields

Shields overall record is 74-68. Athletic director Bunky Dow says the search for a new coach begins in the next two weeks.

“As​ ​the​ ​Athletic​ ​Director​ ​at​ ​MDI​ ​I’m​ ​very​ ​sad​ ​to​ ​receive​ ​his​ ​letter​ ​of​ ​resignation​ ​but​ ​fully understand​ ​and​ ​support​ ​his​ ​reasons.​ ​Mark​ ​is​ ​a​ ​true​ ​professional​ ​and​ ​an​ ​Athletic​ ​Directors​ ​dream coach.​ ​Coach​ ​Shields​ ​was​ ​always​ ​looking​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​each​ ​season​ ​as​ ​a​ ​coach​ ​and​ ​was​ ​an excellent​ ​role​ ​model​ ​for​ ​the​ ​students​ ​in​ ​the​ ​MDI​ ​communities.​ ​​ ​He​ ​will​ ​be​ ​missed.” - Bunky Dow, MDI Athletic Director