FERRIDAY, La. &045; School officials at Huntington hope to fill the position of head football coach in a timely manner following the resignation of Bo Swilley.

Swilley announced his intentions to leave the position of head football coach and athletic director to the school’s board May 23. The former Adams Christian head coach served as head coach of the Hounds for one season but is leaving for to become youth minister at his church in Natchez.

Swilley, however, has asked to remain on the football staff as a volunteer assistant.

&uot;I’m excited about it,&uot; Swilley said. &uot;I’ve had thoughts about going into the ministry. Our youth minister had resigned, and some folks asked me about it. I prayed about it and talked to my wife about it. I felt I had to do it.

&uot;There are things you know you have to do and you have to give up what you really like. I love what I’m doing but like doing that also. I could not do both jobs and do them well.&uot;

Swilley’s decision has the Hounds looking for a new football coach, and that is the duty of new headmaster Ray King. School officials hope to have a successor named by the end of the month with the start of two-a-day workouts in the final week of July.

Timing, board president Macky Stockstill said, is not as bad as it sounds since Swilley will be available if need be along with assistant David Boydston &045; hired as boys’ basketball coach &045; and volunteer assistants who have helped in the past.

&uot;We hope to fill it as soon as possible, but we want to make the right decision,&uot; Stockstill said. &uot;Bo leaving was kind of a shock. This is his calling. You can’t be upset with that. He’s doing what he wants to do. We’re sad to see him go, but he has said he wants to stick around and help with the football team.&uot;

The decision to leave was a tough one for Swilley, although his position of youth minister will allow him to still work with young people. He will leave his position of science teacher at the school and but said his son, Seth, will remain at the school and suit up for the football team.

&uot;I’m really looking forward to going over there and helping as much as I can,&uot; Swilley said. &uot;I’ll come in the afternoons if they want me to and help out coaching. I hope things go well. My kids are going to stay there. It was difficult, but what made it easier was the school allowed me to still volunteer my time over there. It made it easier.&uot;

Swilley was with the Hounds for two years and his second as head coach following the departure of Hugh Hathcock, who was also the school’s headmaster. Hathcock held the position for two years following Gerald Reeves’ departure.

The Hounds finished 3-7 last fall after injuries sent the team into a tailspin near the end of the season. In four of their last five games, the Hounds were either shut out or scored one touchdown.

They have not made the playoffs in the past three seasons despite a 7-3 mark in 2002 that was just short of making the postseason.

&uot;It’s not that they’re just better, but they’re really great kids,&uot; Swilley said. &uot;They’re good, hard workers, and that made it enjoyable. I was really close to Seth’s class last year. They work so hard and are so much fun to work with. We just have a good group of kids over there. I’m going to help in any capacity they want me to help in.&uot;

The Hounds’ season starts at the end of next month when MPSA officials allow two-a-day workouts with no pads to begin July 25. Football games with the MPSA begin Aug. 19, although that date right now is an open date for the Hounds following Grawood’s decision to leave the MPSA.

The Hounds opened the 2004 season at Grawood.

&uot;Bo was a very good influence on the children,&uot; Stockstill said. &uot;He taught them hard work, dedication and team sportsmanship. He was a great asset to the school and will continue to be in whatever role (he chooses).&uot;