Providence Catholic has named offensive coordinator Adam Nissen interim football coach after the New Lenox school announced that Tyler Plantz would no longer lead the program. Athletic director Doug Ternick said Providence was taking the program in a different direction while emphasizing stability and support for the players, according to Football Scoop.
Nissen is expected to coach Providence through the rest of the 2026 season. He previously spent six seasons as head coach at St. Laurence, leading the Vikings to the IHSA Class 4A state championship game in 2023, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and Southwest Regional Publishing.
Change Comes During Undefeated Season
The decision came after Providence opened the season 4-0. The Celtics were ranked No. 1 in Class 5A and No. 7 overall in Illinois and had outscored opponents 125-52, according to USA TODAY. Plantz, who led Providence to the Class 5A state championship game in 2025, finished his tenure with a 35-19 record.
Plantz Disputes How Departure Was Handled
Plantz has offered a different account of the transition. He said that after a Saturday meeting with Providence president Father John Merkelis, he was asked to resign and declined. Providence later announced his departure, Plantz said, without giving him formal termination paperwork, according to Shaw Local.
Plantz said Merkelis raised concerns about staff and parents, lower-level scheduling, college recruiting and the structure of lower-level practices. Plantz maintained that scheduling was outside his responsibilities and said he addressed the other concerns during the meeting, according to the Shaw Local report. Providence's public statement did not provide a more specific explanation for the change.
As of Monday afternoon, Providence officials had not provided additional comment, and Plantz said he still had not received formal notice of termination. Those details remain based on Plantz's account rather than an independently verified school record.
What IHSA rules require
The Illinois High School Association does not appear to prescribe a separate public process for a midseason varsity coaching change in the information provided. It does require member-school head and assistant coaches to meet specified certification or qualification standards, be at least 19 years old and be officially employed by the school board, according to the Illinois High School Association.
Plantz's Providence and Notre Dame Background
Plantz graduated from Providence in 2010 and joined Notre Dame as a walk-on in 2011, later earning a scholarship as a senior. He worked in Notre Dame football coaching and operations from 2015 through 2021 before returning to his alma mater as head coach in 2022, according to BroBible.
