Rock Island Today

The District 205 School Board has approved Mike Washabaugh as the new Galesburg High School football coach.

Washabaugh replaces veteran coach Tim Dougherty, whom he served as an assistant under for the past six seasons, most recently as offensive coordinator. 

“It’s been a good ride the last six years being in a program, and being a head coach is something I always wanted to do,” Washabaugh told the Dispatch-Argus. “I think my experience has been vast at different levels and the success we’ve had on the field I thought gave me a good shot at the job.”

Washabaugh’s hiring is the first in the regime of new Silver Streaks, including athletic director Eric Matthews, who is officially set to take over on July 1, but was part of the hiring process. 

“Obviously, we couldn’t wait until our next board meeting,” Matthews told the Dispatch-Argus. “We felt we had to get it going now.”

Washabaugh is a 2006 graduate of Knoxville High School, where he played football for coach Toby Vallas. He graduated from Carl Sandburg College and Monmouth College. As part of the Galesburg program, he has also served as a defensive line coach, special team’s coordinator and offensive line coach.

Washabaugh credits Dougherty with helping to prepare him for his big chance.

“He’s definitely one of the top mentors among the guys I’ve worked with,” he said. “From him, I learned accountability and how to hold players to the highest standards. I learned organization all through the year and how to build a program.”

Over the last seven seasons, Dougherty’s teams were 29-38 and made three IHSA state playoff appearances. The Streaks finished last season at 3-6.