“I have an 89-year-old father and a 79-year-old mother and they are my world. I’m going to spend as much time as I can visiting them while I still can,” Printz said. “I wish nothing but the best for the new coach, staff and team going forward. I am truly going to miss the players and hope they succeed in achieving all their goals.”
»RELATED: Saturday’s high school roundup
In his career, Printz has coached prep and college football for 33 seasons — 20 as a head coach and 13 as an assistant. He was the head coach at Triad for 15 seasons, compiling a 86-72 record while guiding the program to five playoff berths and three playoff wins.
During that time, he also beat cancer — twice. Printz said his health is good and was not a factor in his resignation.
He spent one season as an assistant Minster before taking the job in South Charleston.
Southeastern went 4-6 in Printz’s first season in 2017, the most wins the program had achieved since going 5-5 in 2012. The Trojans went 3-7 for the second straight season this fall.
Southeastern hasn’t advanced to the playoffs since 2009, the last time it had a winning record. The Trojans went 9-3 that season, advancing to the D-VI, Region 24 semifinals.
Printz hopes to coach again in the future, preferably as an offensive or defensive line coach, but said he’s unsure when that will be.
“I believe it’s time to let someone else make the big decisions,” Printz said. “I just want to be a position coach and get back in the trenches with the boys.”
The search for a new head coach will begin immediately, said Southeastern Athletic Director Craig Isaac. The school board accepted Printz’s resignation at Tuesday’s meeting, he said.
“We wish Payton the very best,” Isaac said. “I know he wanted to spend some time with his family. We appreciate his time here.”
The Trojans are going to “take the best candidate we can find,” he said.
“It’s a team effort,” Isaac said. “The principal and superintendent and myself will get together and figure out what we’re looking for (in a coach).”
Smith out at Bellefontaine: Toby Smith has resigned his post as Bellefontaine's head football coach, according to PeakofOhio.com.
Smith previously coached at West Liberty-Salem. He won four CBC Kenton Trail Division titles with the Chieftains, who went 6-4 last fall.
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