Bemidji's Rick Toward changes gears, takes chance to 'reinvent himself' in Uruguay

Toward spent 33 seasons with the program — 31 of them as head coach. When most coaches resign from their positions, it often stems from common reasoning — the grind became too much, ...

Apr. 2—BEMIDJI — No, it wasn't an April Fools' Day joke. On Wednesday, Bemidji High School activities director Kristen McRae announced that boys soccer head coach Rick Toward was stepping down from the program.

Toward spent 33 seasons with the program — 31 of them as head coach. When most coaches resign from their positions, it often stems from common reasoning — the grind became too much, they want to spend more time with family, the game isn't what it used to be or another coaching position presented itself. However, in more ways than one, Toward isn't like most coaches.

His reasoning is a little different. He and his wife, Sherry, are moving to Uruguay. "This is something I've wanted to do since my daughter, Harper, was little," Toward said.