NATCHEZ — After six seasons as head baseball coach at Adams County Christian School, Hunter McKeivier will depart Natchez for Richton High School.

McKeivier has taken a job as assistant baseball and football coach at Richton, and he stressed that his decision to move was because of personal reasons.

“It wasn’t anything against ACCS, because that’s a great place we love to be at,” McKeivier said. “It was just a better situation for my family, benefits-wise.”

ACCS athletic director Rick Fife said he wishes McKeivier the best as he moves on to the next phase of his career.

“I think he did a good job with the program and left it in pretty good shape, and he worked hard at doing that,” Fife said. “I hate that he’s leaving, but I understand (why).”

After six years of leading the Rebels on the diamond, McKeivier said it would be hard moving on to another school, given the ties he and his family have built at ACCS and in Natchez.

“We had a great time,” he said. “They’re all family to us, and it’s a hard place to leave, because we’re so close to a lot of people and a lot of the kids. It’s just a tough situation. We’re leaving a bunch of good friends and people that are very close to us.”

With a new job ahead of him, McKeivier said he’s excited to help coach Richton, even though he said he doesn’t know much about the school yet.

“I know they have a good baseball tradition, and they’re trying to build up football right now,” McKeivier said. “I don’t know when I’ll begin full-time, but hopefully it will be as soon as I can. There are a lot of factors to still be taken care of here at home.”

As a final farewell to ACCS and Natchez, McKeivier said he wanted everyone to know how grateful he is for all of the support throughout the years.

“This will always be one of the special places in my family’s hearts, and I just want to thank everyone,” he said.

Fife said there would be no rush in finding a replacement for McKeivier.

“At this point, there’s no timetable,” Fife said. “I’m sure we’ll take our time and go through the process and find a good coach for baseball.”