Phil Jensen stepped down Monday after a long run as the Warsaw football coach (File photo by Scott Davidson)

WARSAW – I’m not the first to say it.

But, come next fall, I’m really going to miss Phil Jensen.

Jensen announced his decision Monday to step down after a record-setting run as the Warsaw football coach.

Jensen posted a 104-85 mark in his 18 seasons at WCHS, which included stints from 1996-2003 and again from 2008 until yesterday. He became the program’s all-time winningest coach back on Oct. 27 with a 26-16 comeback win over Chesterton in a Class 6-A playoff game at Fisher Field.

But, the numbers are not what makes Jensen one of my favorites.

The former star at Penn High School, who went on to play at Butler University, would always give an honest answer to any question, be it on or off the record.

Jensen, who I have known for some 20 years dating back to my days as a sportswriter for both the Goshen News and the South Bend Tribune, is a throwback and I mean that in the best of ways.

He was an in-your-face, demanding type of coach, who invested his heart and soul into each and every game that I have covered since the inception of Ink Free News back in 2012.

I always knew, no matter what the outcome of the game was, Jensen would be brutally honest and would talk about the good and the bad from his group of young men on that particular night. He would never though single out or criticize one of his guys for a “rough” night.

The thing that stands out about Jensen though, other than his look-you-in-the-eye honesty, was his love of his players. He, like most of the high school coaches that I have dealt with in my 30 years in this business, deeply cared about his players. He wanted them to be good football players, but more importantly he wanted them to be good students, good sons and good members of the Warsaw community.

Jensen, who will remain at WCHS, could also always make me laugh. Despite the situation, or even the score on the scoreboard, he always had a few “choice” words that could lighten any moment.

Jensen stepped away from the game on Monday citing a desire to have an opportunity to watch his son Michael play in college. Michael, who was the record-setting quarterback for the Tigers and a 2017 WCHS graduate, goes into Spring ball as the top quarterback at Indiana Wesleyan University, which will begin its first season on the gridiron come next fall.

Jensen absolutely did the right thing.

He has his priorities and perspective in order. That perspective comes with a different view for Jensen, who two years ago yesterday was in ICU in a Fort Wayne hospital after suffering severe injuries from a fall at his home.

Jensen, as tough as they come, learned a lot after his accident. He learned just how precious life is, a great life which includes wife Debbie and children Michael and Sam, herself a former standout athlete at WCHS.

Yes, I’m going to really miss Jensen next fall.

Going to miss calling him each Wednesday to get his thoughts on the upcoming opponent.

Going to miss him looking me in the eye after an obvious question and saying “what do you think”.

I’m going to miss a lot about the man.

But, enjoy being a fan next fall Phil.

And more importantly, enjoy being a Dad.

You deserve it.

Phil Jensen (center) is shown with his team after he became the program’s all-time winningest coach with a playoff win over Chesterton back on Oct. 27 at Fisher Field (File photo by Mike Deak)