Chadwick relinquishes post

Former Greenbrier athletic director and football coach Scott Chadwick addressed the Wolfpack football players Wednesday afternoon.

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He told them of his decision to step away from the athletic department in the wake of paperwork problems that resulted in the ineligibility of several football players, along with the forfeiture of two varsity games and the entire junior varsity season.

"It's the third time I've had to do that (tell a team he's leaving the school) as a head coach, and this was certainly the most difficult of the three," Chadwick said. "It's never an easy thing to do, but it's certainly difficult to do when you're so fond of a group of young men as I am of the kids playing in our program.

"We have great kids and great families involved with our football program, and it's disappointing not to be able to continue to work with them."

Chadwick said he planned to remain at the school as a teacher but could leave as early as the end of this semester.

"I think with everything that's happened the last month, I might need to step away from being a head coach for a year or two," he said.

Chadwick was in his second year as athletic director and head football coach at Greenbrier. He'll leave with a 7-13 overall record and 3-1 record against Columbia County teams.

He finished the 2006 season with a 4-6 record. This past fall, he led the Wolfpack to a 5-5 season, but two of those wins were forfeited because an academically ineligible player participated in the games.

Chadwick was facing further punishment from Columbia County schools superintendent Charles Nagle, but the 10-year coaching veteran made his resignation announcement before Nagle released his final decision.

Chadwick said the past few weeks have taken a toll on him. His decision was made after considering his family situation.

"I also feel it is necessary to attempt to move closer to our other family members as we are nearly four hours from our closest relatives," Chadwick wrote in a statement released on Wednesday. "This became more apparent in the last couple of weeks after my father suffered a severe stroke just before Thanksgiving."

Chadwick spent the entire Thanksgiving week with his father. He said he's looking into some non-coaching employment opportunities that would take him out of town, but he'll leave with fond memories of Columbia County.

"I will be forever grateful to Dr. Margie Hamilton and the others who gave me this chance in the first place, and I am sorry this did not turn out better," he said in the statement. "I am, though, proud of the accomplishments we have made in the last two years. We have a record number of participants in the program and an extensive membership in the Gridiron Club.

"On the field, we have been competitive with and defeated playoff caliber opponents. This past season, we defeated Brunswick, a playoff team, and nearly upset the region champions and state semifinalists, Ware County, on their home field.

"Most importantly, I am proud of the impact that I feel I had on the lives of the young men that were a part of the football program the last two years. I can feel comfortable in saying that each of the players that were part of our team the last two years are better young men for their experience."