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TOLEDO -- Whitmer High School's head football coach, Joe Palka, announced his resignation and plans to take a position in Saline, Mich. early Tuesday afternoon. Coach Palka is resigning both his teaching and coaching positions at Whitmer, according to a release from Washington Local Schools.   

"I will be leaving as Head Football Coach at Whitmer to assume the Head Football Coaching and an Administrative position with Saline Schools, which will be a great career opportunity," Palka said.  "I am very grateful for the opportunity provided for me over the last six years by Washington Local Schools.  I would like to thank my staff, my players, our administration, our School Board, and the entire Washington Local community for their support.  It has been a great experience, and I will cherish the memories and the relationships built here for the rest of my life."

Tom Snook, Whitmer’s Athletic Director, added: "We thank Joe Palka for the six years of coaching and teaching that he has provided to our school system.  He has had the most wins of any coach in Region 2, Division I, over the last six years.  He has propelled Whitmer football to great achievements, and I thank him for all he has done for Whitmer football and for the Washington Local community."

Snook said the athletic department would immediately begin a comprehensive search for the school’s next head football coach.

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