Scott Svendsen resigns as Aberdeen Central High School football after one year

Scott Svendsen has resigned as head football coach at Central High School.

His resignation was accepted by the Aberdeen school board during Monday's meeting.

"I just want to say that Aberdeen Central is a great place. We've got great leadership there, we've got great kids there, we've got great parents there, we've got great coaches there, and so I want to make sure that's known up front," Svendsen said.

Svendsen's stint at Central lasted just one season. He led the Golden Eagles to a 4-7 record in the fall. A close playoff loss to eventual state champion Pierre ended the season for the Eagles.

His resignation comes after a what he called "difference in philosophy." The school has a contract with Sanford that allows for the health care system, not the head coach, to oversee the football strength training, according to Svendsen.

"My perspective is a little bit different than most people around here in that I've been down in Texas since 1989 ... I just felt like as the head football coach, on our campus and in our school district, that I should at least have a say in our strength program and have access to our weight room, and I just didn't feel like that was going on," Svendsen said.

Becky Guffin, Aberdeen school district superintendent, confirmed Wednesday morning that the school's athletic teams work with the Sanford POWER program, but declined further comment.

Dawn Seiler, Central High School athletic director, said the resignation was amicable. Although Svendsen has a different philosophy on strength training, Seiler said they were working through those differences. Seiler said Svendsen did a lot of good things for the football team, but the program is now ready to move forward.

Goals of the Sanford POWER program include improving performance, reducing injuries and empowering athletes, a Sanford spokesman said.

"Sanford Health is a proud partner of Aberdeen Central High School and has provided sports medicine coverage and a certified strength and conditioning specialist for the last five years," Steve Young, president of Sanford Sports, said in a statement. "The certified strength and conditioning specialist assists Aberdeen Central athletes year-round and meets with the athletic director and coaches from all sports – not only football – on a regular basis and encourages collaboration. These meetings occur routinely in all of our partner schools as well."

But for Svendsen, the agreement was a sticking point.

"I've seen excellence and I know what it looks like, and I just felt this is the difference in the philosophy. That's all it is. I'm not mad at anybody," Svendsen said.

He added that he wanted "to run a total program" at Central.

Svendsen's first coaching job early in his career was at Central High School, the school district announced when he was hired in April 2021.

Before returning to Aberdeen, Svendsen coached in Alvarado, Texas, where he had been assistant head football coach and offensive coordinator since 2011. He has also coached in leagues in the United Kingdom and was a coach at Katy High School in Texas, where he helped lead the team to state titles in 2000 and 2003.

Svendsen was also a physical education and health teacher at Central.

More: Scott Svendsen named new Central football coach

A Eureka native, Svendsen received his college degree from Northern State University.

For now, he is unsure where his career will take him next.

"I'm just gonna sit here and mull it over. I have no plans ... Just decide and put it in God's hands where I need to be and try to make a positive impact on people and continue on," Svendsen said. "I'm just thankful for the opportunity that Aberdeen Central gave me, and I appreciate that."

Editors note: An incorrect reference to Svendsen being the head coach at Katy High School during the championship seasons has been changed in this story.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Scott Svendsen resigns as head football coach at Aberdeen Central