On verge of playoffs, Independence fires its football coach

One week after its biggest win in years, and on the verge of its first playoff berth since 1985, the Independence football program has lost its head coach.

The contract of Brandon Krusey was terminated late Thursday night by the Independence school board. Krusey also was the school's athletics director.

Indee was 5-3 going into its Class 3A non-district game Friday night at Maquoketa. The Mustangs shocked second-ranked West Delaware last Friday, 10-0, to get into serious postseason contention.

The school has qualified for the football playoffs once, in 1985. This was the third season at Independence for Krusey, who led North Tama to a Class A runner-up finish in 2008 and also coached Grundy Center to the playoffs.

Prior to his arrival, Indee had won two games in five years.

'Our sole focus is to make the Independence Community School District the best school district it can be,” said school board president Brian Eddy.

He would not disclose reasons for Krusey's dismissal, only saying the board voted unanimously, 5-0, to terminate the contracts of Krusey and food service director/assistant girls' basketball coach Jessica Weber, effective immediately. Assistant coach Justin Putz will take over the football program for the remainder of the season.

A message left for Krusey on his cell phone, seeking comment, was not immediately returned.

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