Sakelaris steps down as Galena football coach

The man who turned around the Galena High football program is stepping down.

Greg Sakelaris, who took Galena to the playoffs the last three times, has resigned, NevadaPrep.com reported on Friday.

"He has an opportunity to get into the private business world," said Galena athletic director Teresa Burrows on why Sakelaris resigned. "We're definitely sorry to see him go.

"In the five years he was in the program, he did a terrific job. The kids have really responded to him."

Before Sakelaris took over, Galena had never won more than two games in a season. The Grizzlies made the Northern 4A playoffs for the first time in 2000 and advanced to the Northern 4A semifinals each of the last two years.

Sakelaris couldn't be reached for comment. Galena had been open for seven years and hadn't had much success in football when Sakelaris took over in 1998. The Grizzlies went a combined 3-14 in Sakelaris' first two seasons, then went 3-7 and went to the playoffs in 2000.

Galena went 7-4 in 2001, losing to the Northern 4A's top team, McQueen, 7-0 in a game that could have given it a tie for the High Desert League title. The Grizzlies went on to beat Hug 24-0 in the first round of the zone playoffs before losing to Elko in the semifinals. In 2002, the Grizzlies again went 7-4 and beat Douglas 7-6 in the first round of the playoffs before losing to McQueen in the semifinals.

"We're going to have a thorough search," said Burrows about Sakelaris' replacement. "We're going to get the best person for the job. Obviously we'd like to do it right away."