After two seasons on the job, Gilmer High football head coach Kevin Saunders has resigned.
Saunders turned in his letter of resignation last Wednesday and discussed his reason for leaving the program.
“I resigned as football coach and this is my doing and not the administration’s or anything like that,” Saunders said. “They wanted me to stay, but I thought it’d be best for my family to try to find a job somewhere else. (Stepson) Spenser will be going away to college, and it will just be me and (wife) Traci, and I got to make everyone happy at home.
“The administration has been very supportive. I think it’s a decent job for somebody, and I’ll see where I end up whether that be a head coach or assistant.”
Saunders led GHS to a 7-12 record during his two seasons. In 2019, he took over a program that had lost 30 games in a row. The Bobcats ended that streak at 31 and finished the year with a 4-6 record. Gilmer posted a 3-6 mark in 2020’s COVID-19 shortened season.
“The program is in a lot better place now than when I got here,” Saunders said. “The groundwork is laid for a good football program. The support the community gave my family, I truly appreciate. I appreciate the support I got from the administration. And the players, I truly appreciate them. This is a great coaching staff here.”
Saunders will continue to teach weight training at GHS. He plans to remain in the role through the end of the school year or until he finds another coaching position.