St. Joseph Christan is excited to announce that St. Joseph Christian School (St. Joseph, MO) and Northland Christian School (Kansas City, MO) will enter a cooperative sponsorship in football for the 2019-2020 school year. This move will be a great benefit to both schools as they work towards strong, sustainable programs of their own in the future.

The St. Joseph Christian program, celebrating its 20 th season this fall, won the Missouri 8-man state championship in 2006, and finished as a runner up in 2004, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Northland Christian will be offering football for the first time, making fall of 2019 their inaugural season.

The combined enrollments of the schools place the co-op at the 11-man level of MSSHAA football. St. Joseph Christian’s Troy Schenk brings 16 years of coaching experience, with 15 of those years at the college level, to the head coach position for the co-op. Northland Christian’s Jeff Rich will be serving as the assistant coach, with 17 years of coaching experience.

“I am beyond excited to have the Northland Christian Football Team co-oping with us here at St. Joseph Christian. This whole process is a great fit for both schools. I understand there will be challenges along the way but have full confidence in both schools’ leadership to overcome those challenges. The goal is to have a football program that seeks to honor God and help to develop young men who will one day be great leaders, husbands, and fathers that love Jesus.  I can say with great certainty that the football team at SJCS can hardly wait to welcome our new brothers from Northland Christian to the football family!” Coach Schenk.

“I am excited and honored to be part of the inaugural football coaching staff at Northland Christian. I am convinced we could not have found a more perfect partnership than with St. Joseph Christian. The opportunities ahead for our students, staff, and community are tremendous. I truly feel blessed.” Assistant Coach Rich.

Other assistant coaches will be assembled in the upcoming weeks. The co-op will keep the name of St. Joseph Christian School with an emphasis on the name “Christian” which is in the name of, and is the identity of, both schools. St. Joseph Christian School will not be competing in the Grand River Conference in 11-man football for the 2019-2020 school year due to the schedule already being completed.