After a 3-8 season plagued with injury and disappointment, Natchez High School head football coach Elbert &uot;Mo&uot; Lyles resigned Monday.

&uot;I didn’t feel that I met the goals I had set for myself this season,&uot; Lyles said. &uot;I honestly felt it was time for me to step back and give someone else an opportunity.&uot;

Lyles said he had hoped to bring a winning program to the Natchez-Adams School District — something that hasn’t happened since North and South Natchez high schools were consolidated in 1989.

&uot;We’ve only had two winning seasons in 11 years,&uot; he said. &uot;I really thought we’d at least be in the playoffs by year three. We were far from that, if you ask me.&uot;

Lyles took over the program in 1998, after Natchez had finished runner-up in South State. The team he inherited, though, lost several key players to graduation, and his first season ended 3-8.

The rebuilding that was supposed to take place never did. Natchez limped to 2-9 last year and finished 3-8 Friday with a 56-24 win over Forest Hill.

&uot;I definitely enjoyed the opportunity,&uot; Lyles said. &uot;I appreciate all the support I got.

&uot;I’m a product of the district,&uot; he said. &uot;I thank God for the opportunity to coach here. Things just didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to.&uot;

Lyles will continue to teach driver’s education at the high school for the remainder of the school year, but he has no immediate plans after that, he said.

&uot;When it gets closer to the summer I’ll start thinking about it more,&uot; he said. &uot;But I have faith things will work out to my advantage.&uot;

Robert Cade also resigned as the team’s offensive coordinator, but will continue to serve as the district’s athletic director.