Steve Broussard resigns as Fort Vancouver’s football coach

The most painful process for Steve Broussard resigning as Fort Vancouver High School’s football coach was informing the team that made positive gains in his first season as the Trappers’ coach.

“I wanted to call every guy in there one by one,” Broussard said, “and do it that way.”

Broussard stepped down after one season Friday. The 50-year-old ex-NFL running back who made Fort his first head-coaching stint said the main reason for his resignation is to focus on his health.

He had shoulder replacement surgery in August went fall practices began, and coupled a health scare at the Fort-Evergreen game Oct. 6 that led to Broussard being transported via ambulance to the hospital, that led him to contemplate whether he needs to step away for a while.

But he isn’t shutting the door on coaching permanently, he added. Just for now. He also will remain on staff at Fort as a student advocate.

“I just need some time,” Broussard said.

Broussard joined the coaching ranks after his NFL playing career ended in 1998. He assisted at five college programs and a California high school team before joining Union’s coaching staff in 2016. 

Fort went 0-9 last fall. Athletic director John Schultz said Friday he hopes to have Fort’s position filled as soon as possible.

“We’re looking for someone to take over and build on what Coach Broussard did,” Schultz said.