Crabtree steps down as North Putnam head football coach

Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Brian Crabtree

ROACHDALE -- North Putnam head football coach Brian Crabtree has tendered his resignation as head football coach as well as his position as physical education teacher at North Putnam High School.

Crabtree amassed a record of 11-1, leading the Cougars into the sectional final where they fell to county rival South Putnam in his one season at North Putnam. In eight years as a head coach, Crabtree has a record of 35-39.

Before joining North Putnam, Crabtree coached at North Central Farmersburg and was named Southwest Seven Football Conference Co-Coach of the Year in 2006.

Although North Putnam is one of the most successful football programs in Class 2A over the past several years, it's also been somewhat of a coaching carousel.

Since their breakout season in 2006 under then head coach Dave Pasch when they went 13-1, North Putnam has a record of 69-8 with three coaches at the helm. During that run they've captured three sectional titles, two regional titles, one semi-state title and had their only state championship game appearance.

In his final two seasons as North Putnam head coach, Pasch led the Cougars to a 25-2 record including two sectional and one regional title. After he stepped down following the 2007 season, Greg Barrett took over and North Putnam amassed a 33-5 record, with a sectional, regional and semi-state title as well as the school only appearance in the state finals. Barrett left the program to join Indiana State as an assistant coach following the 2010 season.

With the departure of Crabtree, the Cougars will be looking once more for a coach to continue its winning ways.