NATCHEZ &045; The list of coaching vacancies at Adams Christian just got longer.

Head baseball coach Ron Rushing submitted his letter of resignation to headmaster John Gray Thursday to create another vacancy within the school’s athletic department. School officials have yet to name basketball coaches and had promoted Rushing to head coach following the resignation of Gill Morris back in May.

Now the search is on for a baseball coach, head girls’ basketball coach, head boys’ basketball coach, assistant football coach and possibly head track coach.

Rushing, a 1991 AC graduate, resigned to take a position in private business.

&uot;We’ve got some coaching problems right now,&uot; Gray said. &uot;As far as who is going to coach what, school is not far away and everybody is already under contract. We don’t want to go out and be bad neighbors and recruit somebody from one of our neighbor schools. We’ve got to put our heads together to see what’s available.&uot;

Rushing’s departure is the fifth on the school’s coaching staff in the last 12 months. The coach had spent the previous month working with the Rebels during its summer league schedule and was set to go into the football season as defensive coordinator under head coach Keith Walters.

Others who have resigned include Morris, Cori Britt (assistant football) Bruce Pickle (girls’ basketball) and Ricky Gray (boys’ basketball). Bill Richardson, coach of boys’ and girls’ track and junior high football, may be on leave when his National Guard unit is deployed to the Middle East.

For Rushing, the decision to leave was one he had to make.

&uot;It was just an opportunity I couldn’t turn down and my family couldn’t turn down,&uot; said Rushing, who spent four years at Brookhaven Academy before returning to his alma mater. &uot;It’s nothing against the school or the kids. It’s something I had to do for my family.

&uot;It was a very hard decision, but it goes back to my family. I’ve got to do what’s best for them.&uot;

Rushing’s departure comes right on the heels of Morris announcing his intentions to leave the position after four years at the helm. Rushing leaves a team that could very well compete for a state championship since the school is moving down to Class AA following an appearance in the Class AAA state championship in May.

Now it’s up to the school to find a successor &045; along with the other vacancies &045; with the start of the school year about a month away.

&uot;He’s like family to me,&uot; John Gray said. &uot;I had him over there in Brookhaven. I hate to lose him, but he’s got to do what’s best for his family. It’s a decision he needs to make for him and his family for the long run.&uot;

The decision is especially a tough one for Rushing, who said it may mark the end of his coaching career on the professional level. A standout athlete at Co-Lin and Delta State, Rushing said he’ll likely coach his son when he reaches the age to play Dixie Youth baseball but will remain in the private sector.

Rushing and his wife of four years, Kappi, have an 18-month-old son, Tate.

&uot;I’m going to try to quit cold turkey,&uot; he said. &uot;I enjoyed my time over there. I love doing it, but a lot of things come with the job. I think I’ll miss the kids and the people. It’s not very easy. I’ve got to do my part. Part of it is job security. Coaches hop around. I’m from here, and (my wife) is from here. We want to stay here.&uot;

That position, however, may not be as urgent right now as filling spots on the football staff and finding head coaches for basketball. Gray, who came out of coaching retirement to serve as head boys’ coach last year, said he may wind up doing it again this season if no candidate surfaces soon.

The perfect candidate, he said, would be someone to coach both boys and girls for one year. He said he’ll meet with high school principal Buddy Wade, also a longtime baseball coach at South Natchez, to determine what direction to take.

Walters may coach track if Richardson is called out on duty during the spring, he said.

&uot;We’re going to do what we have to do for the kids,&uot; Gray said. &uot;It’s part of running the school. But our enrollment is looking good. I don’t feel uncomfortable because I feel we’ve got people who can do a good job with the kids, but I’d rather not do it that way. I’d rather have people with energy and time.&uot;