Veteran Steve Garland has resigned as the head baseball coach at Soddy-Daisy High School.

He will remain at the school as the football team's defensive coordinator.

On Monday, Garland issued the following to Chattanooga-area media outlets:

"After considerable thought, ongoing prayer, numerous conversations with those closest to me, and ultimately, a heavy heart, I have chosen to resign my duties as Soddy-Daisy High School head baseball coach.

"I will forever be indebted to those affiliated with Soddy-Daisy High School who have provided me with such an awesome opportunity as that which I’ve experienced in leading the Trojan Baseball program for the last 11 years. Mr. Robert Smith took a chance on me as a 27-year-old with only middle school head coaching experience in 1997 and I will always be grateful to him for that. I am equally thankful for my current principal, Mr. John Maynard, and the confidence he has displayed in allowing me to run the program as I saw fit. Likewise, all the assistant principals and faculty/staff of SDHS have each been very good to me over the years.

"Additionally, I am extremely grateful to those I’ve surrounded myself with on the coaching staff. We’ve been blessed to have loyal, dependable, hard-working, and talented coaches on our staff over the years. Of the number of quality assistants that I owe so much to, I’m especially endeared to Jerry McAfee (98-01), Jared Hensley (02-05), and Ted Mulder (05-current), who all served a four year tour of duty with the program (at different times).

"The success we’ve had would not have been possible without the outstanding support we’ve had at Soddy-Daisy. We have enjoyed such widespread support that you could say there have been more boosters, parents, and community supporters than one could count. I feel like it is easy to say that I leave Soddy-Daisy baseball better than I found it eleven years ago … not because of anything special that I’ve done … but, because of the all the support shown by those who’ve rallied around the program for all these years. It would be impossible to list everyone whose efforts have bettered our facilities and program … but I would be remiss if I did not at least mention my heartfelt gratitude to Tom Higgins, whose leadership spearheaded our efforts to build our facility in 1997. We lost Tom to cancer in 2000, but his fingerprints are all over our field, which now bears his name.

"Obviously, the key ingredient in any successful program is the student-athletes who make so many sacrifices to create a winning atmosphere and a team-oriented culture. I will never be able to repay my players over the years who have given of themselves, always played with great heart and determination, and ‘bought in’ to my often quirky style of coaching. We’ve been blessed with remarkable talent, and in a number of cases, young men who were great players, but even better people.

"There are a number of positives that makes Soddy-Daisy a great job. As mentioned, the community and parental support is second to none. The student-athletes are talented and give great effort. The school is top-notch and so very supportive of our athletic endeavors. The No. 1 question that I’ve had to answer myself (and no doubt will have to answer to so many others in the days to come) is: “why give up something that you love so much?” The best answer that I’ve arrived at is: that being a head high school baseball coach is ‘all-consuming.’ There have been many times when baseball is the last thing on my mind at night and the first thing on my mind in the morning. I find myself being consumed with it for 12 months a year. There have been too many late nights and long weekends to count. I still love coaching the great game of baseball; but the obligations and responsibilities of being a head coach have taken their toll.

"There are a number of tasks performed by high school baseball head coaches that most casual observers don’t realize. Often times the head coach is a fundraiser, cheerleader, field crew chief, politician, spiritual advisor, salesman, academic advisor, substitute parent, big brother, meteorologist, custodian, maintenance man, and friend. These duties rolled into one can be very taxing on the head coach.

"With all that said, I feel like baseball has become my identity. However, I have personally always believed that … baseball is what I do, rather than who I am. I have allowed those priorities to be blurred. Behind any dedicated coach is a faithful family. I thank God daily for my understanding, supportive wife, Kim, and precious daughter, Christin Grace, who have shared me with the Soddy-Daisy baseball all these years so that I could pursue my dreams.

"I feel very fortunate to have been able to serve Soddy-Daisy for 11 years. Almost every area school we compete with has experienced a considerable amount of turnover in their coaching staffs. I believe the 11 years to be close to the longest tenure in the area (except Baylor, Lookout Valley, and Rhea County). This lengthy tenure has afforded me countless opportunities to build relationships, make lifelong friendships, guide the program through much growth and change, upgrade facilities, equipment, and expectations, build community pride, experience a great deal of personal and professional growth, and most importantly, I hope I have impacted a generation of young people who have passed through under my watch.

"Because the program means so much to me, I feel the time is right to make the move. I believe Soddy-Daisy will benefit much from this change. I feel that a fresh start brings excitement and opportunity for a new beginning. I hope that SDHS is able to bring in a coach who will build on our traditions and successes, while having his own vision to lead SD baseball to the next level. It is a good situation. Loftis Middle defeated Soddy-Daisy Middle (SDHS’ feeder schools) in the championship for the HCAC title last spring. In 2007, Middle Valley’s 11 year olds captured the Dizzy Dean World Series. The high school team only graduated four seniors from a 24 win team who were the regular season District 6-AAA # 1 seed. There are plans in the works to construct an indoor facility to use for both the baseball and softball programs. Someone will be walking into a good situation.

"As mentioned, I still love the great game of baseball. I hope to pursue opportunities to coach baseball down the road (perhaps as an assistant coach elsewhere this spring). I just need a “sabbatical” (fancy word a college professor uses when they take a year off) from the responsibilities and obligations of a head coach. I want to make it clear that I do hope to coach baseball again. Meanwhile, I am dedicated to teaching U.S. History and assisting with SDHS Football (Defensive Coordinator for new head coach, E.K. Slaughter) this year.

"Although the ‘downside’ of being a head coach is driving this decision, it would be misstating the truth if I did not mention that the 11 years leading Trojan baseball have absolutely been a labor of love. The Lord has blessed me beyond measure during this time and I leave with only good memories. Part of me will always be a Baseball Trojan!''

Respectfully,

Steve Garland
Soddy-Daisy Baseball Coach

Garland was 247-171 with the Trojans with seven District 6-AAA regular-season title sand two 6-AAA tournament championships.

The Trojans won the region ttile in 2004 and made the school's first state-tournament appearance in 27 years.

(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)