After four years of coaching the girls’ varsity basketball team, Coach Jeff Smith has stepped down.

“It was definitely not an easy decision, but one that needed to be made,” Smith posted on social media.

Smith’s announcement caught freshman Savannah Hughes off guard.

“I was kind of surprised I didn’t expect him to step down this year,” she said. “I think it was time for a change on the varsity level.”

Junior varsity head Coach Derrick Hamilton will lead next year’s team.

 “It’s a little sad to see [Smith] go because he has been with us for a while,” sophomore Zohra Mujeeb said. “But at the same time were really exited to have Coach Derrick coaching us as our head coach because his style is way different. We’re exited to see how our season will go next year”

By Zane Sanders