Tampa Catholic football coach Mike Gregory has resigned from his job after two seasons with the Crusaders, the school announced Friday.
Gregory, who served as an assistant at Tampa Catholic for four years before taking his first head coaching job, cited family reasons for his resignation. His wife is expecting their first child in June.
"Quite frankly, I didn't want to be halfway a dad one way and halfway a coach the other way," Gregory said. "The whole process of coming to the decision and telling my kids was devastating. I shed tears multiple times in the process."
Gregory said resigning was something he thought about for weeks leading up to Friday's announcement and that he made the final decision Tuesday after consulting family. On Friday morning, he met with his team to break the news.
Gregory had a record of 14-11 and took the Crusaders to the state semifinals during his first season in 2013.
His tenure as head coach, though, was also marred by controversy surrounding the program's multiple allegations of recruiting, one of which involved five-star wide receiver Nate Craig's transfer from Pasco to Tampa Catholic.
Gregory said his resignation had nothing to do with the ongoing investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
"If I felt like we had done anything wrong," he said, "I wouldn't have been here this long."
Gregory, who lives in Land O'Lakes, said he's not sure what his plans are for the fall but left open the possibility of joining a staff as an assistant coach closer to his home. Being the man in charge once again, he said, is also something he's also interested in pursuing in the future.
"Definitely down the road I'd love to be a head coach again when the timing's better and the situation is a little bit different," Gregory said.
Gregory, who served as an assistant at Tampa Catholic for four years before taking his first head coaching job, cited family reasons for his resignation. His wife is expecting their first child in June.
"Quite frankly, I didn't want to be halfway a dad one way and halfway a coach the other way," Gregory said. "The whole process of coming to the decision and telling my kids was devastating. I shed tears multiple times in the process."
Gregory said resigning was something he thought about for weeks leading up to Friday's announcement and that he made the final decision Tuesday after consulting family. On Friday morning, he met with his team to break the news.
Gregory had a record of 14-11 and took the Crusaders to the state semifinals during his first season in 2013.
His tenure as head coach, though, was also marred by controversy surrounding the program's multiple allegations of recruiting, one of which involved five-star wide receiver Nate Craig's transfer from Pasco to Tampa Catholic.
Gregory said his resignation had nothing to do with the ongoing investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association.
"If I felt like we had done anything wrong," he said, "I wouldn't have been here this long."
Gregory, who lives in Land O'Lakes, said he's not sure what his plans are for the fall but left open the possibility of joining a staff as an assistant coach closer to his home. Being the man in charge once again, he said, is also something he's also interested in pursuing in the future.
"Definitely down the road I'd love to be a head coach again when the timing's better and the situation is a little bit different," Gregory said.
