After 10 seasons, Austin High football coach Mike Rosenthal resigns

Mike Rosenthal is resigning as head football coach and athletic coordinator at Austin High after 10 years with the school.

Rosenthal is making a life change by moving to California to support his son, Tread, an aspiring volleyball player. Tread, currently a sophomore at St. Stephen's, has left the school and will enroll at Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach, Calif. At 15, he is part of the MB Surf club team and is on the USA Volleyball national development team.

At Austin High, Rosenthal compiled a 10-year record of 44-59, finishing with a winning record four times. This was a tough year for the Maroons, who were 2-8 overall, 0-7 in District 26-6A.

"The Friday nights were never about me," Rosenthal said Monday. "Being out there with the kids at House Park was something special. Being a part of Texas high school football is special."

Rosenthal, who spoke to his players Monday morning about his plans, said he will miss his team, Austin High faculty, fans and alumni. Yet his son has some "amazing opportunities" to improve his volleyball future.

"On the girls side you see how big Texas high school and Texas club volleyball is," he said. "We need more opportunities for the boys."

Mike and Lindsay Rosenthal have two daughters who play on the Austin High volleyball team. Kasen, a senior, will graduate in December will play volleyball at the University of Connecticut next year. Tanon, a junior, will play beach volleyball at the University of Arizona after she graduates from high school.

"There has obviously been a lot of discussion about making this change," Lindsay said Monday. "There have been many talks, many tears. We've talked about the pros and cons. He's making a huge change for the betterment of his son and for our family. ... As much as it will hurt him to not be coach football anymore and not be part of the Austin High community, It's what we have to do as a family."

Rosenthal, 44, had a distinguished college and NFL career. Born in Pittsburgh, he earned All-America status as an offensive tackle while playing for Notre Dame. Taken in the fifth round of the 1999 NFL draft, he played four seasons with the New York Giants and four more with the Minnesota Vikings.

Rosenthal was named to the 1994 USA Today All-America team while playing at Penn High School in Mishawaka, Ind. He was inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2014.