Laura Wood has resigned as the boys basketball coach at Soddy-Daisy High School, effective at the end of the 2003-04 season.
Wood, one of the only women to ever coach a boys basketball team in Tennessee, told her team she was stepping down after the Trojans lost on Tuesday night to Chattanooga Central.
Soddy-Daisy Principal Robert Smith confirmed Wood's resignation on Wednesday. He said Wood felt similar to football coach Glen Ryan, who left Soddy-Daisy for Munford High near Memphis. Smith hired Tom Weathers to succeed Ryan.
"Like Glen, I think Miss Wood decided the program needed a change,'' Smith said. "Things are down this year, and she just felt like it was time for someone else to take a crack at it.''
Wood, who played for Chattanooga's Lady Mocs, had a couple of successful years when she was first hired, but the last two have not gone as well.
"We were really tough that first year,'' Smith said. "Injuries just hit us at tournament time. The thing that stood out about Laura there was almost every senior that graduated got a college offer. She really did well.''
Soddy-Daisy dropped to 4-12 overall and 0-4 in District 6-AAA with Tuesday's loss to Central.
"Our won-loss record is not very good this year and we've had some pretty decisive losses,'' Smith said. "And again like Glen, we got word that some kids weren't coming out for some reason. I think we were just short on talent right there as far as kids coming out.''
Smith said Wood plans to stay until the end of the season, but that she could change her mind.
"She wants what is best for the kids,'' he said. "If it is best for her to go ahead and move out, then she will do that.
"I appreciate Miss Wood's efforts. Nobody has worked harder than her. A lot of people never gave her a real chance, I don't think. I hate it turned out like it did. She knows her basketball. When she had talent she won.''
Smith said his search for a new coach will begin immediately.
"It's a good opportunity,'' he said. "We've got a real young team and could be tough next year.
"We have a good booster club, and we're getting a new gym. And not many have a cheering section and pep band like we have. There are a lot of positives here. We'll be looking for somebody that the kids will play for and play hard for.''
(E-mail Stan Crawley at wscrawley@earthlink.net)