Varsity  football coach Mike Farley will be moving on at the end of the school year. Farley recently accepted an offer to be the offensive coordinator at South Effingham High School in Guyton, Georgia about 30 miles northwest of Savannah.

He was offered the position by Donnie Revell, his former college coach at Olivet Nazarene University. Revell currently serves as head coach at South Effingham.

As of the time this story was posted, Farley had not responded to Blade phone calls seeking comment.

Farley held a team meeting this morning that was expected to be about summer schedules. However,  players were shocked when Farley announced his resignation.

“I think it caught a lot of people off guard and I think they understand where Coach Farley is coming from and that it’s not so much that he’s leaving them, but he’s going to a new opportunity,” assistant coach Nate Smith said.

Farley served as head coach for eight seasons and compiled a total record of 44-32. He led three consecutive teams into postseason play starting in 2009 and founded the Young Bucs football program.

“[Farley] really bettered our program and made it what it is today,” junior Austin Rutherford said. “He had a lot of passion for this sport.”

The administration will sit down soon to look at filling the head coach position, however no timeline has been set.

“We have to look at all parameters with regard to it,” assistant athletic director Ron Allen said. “That could be from how quickly we should do it based on summer activities taking place. Do we have any viable candidates inside? Do we have viable candidates outside? Sometimes that takes a process.”

Allen appreciates all Farley has done.

“Eight years of dedicated service to not only the athletes but the community, school system and development of the football program,” Allen said. “I think he has done a lot in regards to the program. Speaking on behalf of Mr. Bye and Mr. Provencal they would have a lot of good things (to say) about Mike. We can not thank him enough for what he’s done.”