Shaker varsity football head coach Dennis Bender announced today that he is stepping down at the conclusion of the 2009 season after six years of leading the Blue Bison.

From Athletic Director Ed Dopp's press release, verbatim:

"Coach Bender, a 1980 Shaker High School graduate has been as dedicated and loyal to Shaker and especially to our Football Program as anyone could possibly be. He has worked his way up from a North Colonie Pop Warner Coach, a nine-year assistant in our program, and has served as our Varsity Head Coach for the past six years."

Dopp continues,
"As he has decided that, for himself, and his family the time has come for a change, we wish him well; he has made a difference in our program and in the lives of the student-athletes he has worked with. Our Football Program is better for having had Coach Bender as a member."