Come fall, the Kentwood Conquerors will be led onto the field by a new head coach.

After 11 years of coaching the Conks football team, coach Rex Norris stepped down from the helm.

Norris is only the third coach of the Conks since the first season in 1982.

In his 11 years as head coach, Norris has a winning record of 86-30.

Norris also spent seven years as defensive coordinator and three years as assistant coach.

It was announced March 20 Norris was stepping down after accepting a position at Serevi Rugby in Seattle.

“(This) opportunity is unique and will allow me to spend more time with my family and give me some new challenges in life,” Norris said.

He isn’t leaving the realm of football all together.

In June he will start his new position as head of football programming at Serevi.

Aside from coaching the Conks, Norris has also spent time coaching various rugby teams including The Kent Crusaders.

A statement from Serevi noted Norris also helped start the first girl’s rugby team in the country in 1992.

The statement added, Norris has spent years combining disciplines from football and rugby.

“In Rex, we couldn’t have found a more qualified person to lead these efforts,” the statement from Serevi read. “He not only knows and has succeeded in both sports for decades but also has the respect of his peers in the coaching world.”

During his time at Serevi, Norris will continue to coach the Crusaders.

And Kentwood won’t be completely rid of him yet.

The statement said he has offered to assist the school in the transition period of finding a new coach.

“I have been a part of Kentwood for 20 years,” Norris said. “Whether they like it or not I will always be connected to Kentwood. I have grown up with it.”

During his time with the Conks, aside from the winning record, Norris was part of a number of other honors.

He was named head coach of the year in 2010 and 2012.

In his 11 years, the Conks have won 10 Claude French trophies.

The only year they didn’t win was this season.

The Conquerors have also had 14 all-state players during Norris’ time as head coach.

Kentwood won the league title five times and were runners up the other six years during Norris’ tenure.

Norris said during his time as coach, 11 ex-Kentwood players returned to help coach the Conks.

Aside from awards and honors during Norris’ time at Kentwood, he helped change the football program.

Changes made were new programs at games; new sleds for all three programs; a number of different fundraisers including Gold Cards; the Hall of Fame banquet; new editing equipment; study sessions in the offseason; a mural painted in the weight room and additional staff including a team chiropractor and physical therapists.

Apart from his years as head coach, Norris has been teaching at Kentwood for the past 20 years.

He will finished out the year as a teacher but his official duties as head coach ended March 18.

The Kent School District is currently accepting applications to fill the head coaching position.

“Kentwood hopes to name the new head coach by the end of April,” JoAnne Daughtry, athletics and activities director at Kentwood, said.