Scot Moenck will take a 1-year coaching sabbatical

DELHI — It’s not a resignation. It’s a sabbatical.

It’s not “Farewell.”

It’s “See you shortly.”

Scot Moenck, who coached Maquoketa Valley to the Class 2A girls’ basketball state final in March, will take a one-year hiatus to finish his degree in education.

“That’s the hope, to be back in a year,” Moenck said Monday. “For me, this is the best of both worlds.”

But it didn’t make it easier to tell his team.

“A lot of tears,” Moenck said. “I thought I was prepared to tell them, but it was tough.”

Brad Huber and Ali Scherrman will serve as co-coaches on an interim basis for 2021-22.

Moenck, 46, has planned on the 2020-21 season being his last one with the Wildcats.

“I was going to get out for good,” he said. “But somebody (in the administration) brought up the idea of a sabbatical.”

He will complete his degree from Upper Iowa University in the fall, do a semester of student teaching next spring, then become a teacher of social sciences in the fall of 2022.

“I’m excited that both Maquoketa Valley and Upper Iowa have been so flexible for me,” Moenck said. “I was taking a class online on the drive to state (in March).”

Moenck owns a 313-105 record in 18 years of coaching, including 274-77 in 15 years at Maquoketa Valley. The Wildcats were 26-1 last season, and Moenck was named Gazette-area coach of the year.

“We’re embedded in the community, and we’re going to stay here, whether I’m coaching or not,” he said.

The Wildcats return two starters for next season — Carissa Sabers and Kylie Chesnut.

Moenck will continue to serve as Rivalry Saturday director.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com