Lashley steps down at Navarre

NAVARRE — Citing a desire to “seek a new challenge,” Chad Lashley resigned as the head football coach at Navarre High School on Friday.

Lashley, who said he had wrestled with the decision as far back as last summer, informed the Navarre football team of his decision early Friday morning. His resignation ends a seven-year tenure at Navarre during which he served as the Raiders head coach for the last four seasons.

“I felt like I made just about the biggest impact I could make here at Navarre,” Lashley said. “There’s no doubt it’s the right thing for me to do.”

Following consecutive three-win seasons in 2008 and 2009, Lashley guided Navarre to a school-record 11-2 campaign and Class 4A regional final appearance in 2010. Lashley was named the Daily News’ Coach of the Year following the 2010 season.

Last season the Raiders finished with a 5-5 record.

Navarre athletic director Scott Murphy said he was “shocked” by Lashley’s resignation and said the search for his replacement will begin immediately.

“He was a father figure, all our coaches were, but it started with coach Lashley,” Murphy said. “Chad will be missed because he’s a good person.”

Lashley also pointed to a desire to spend more time with his family — he has three young children — as a key factor behind his decision to step down as the Raiders head coach. He also said he leaves Navarre “not disgruntled or unhappy with football.” A former assistant coach at Niceville (2004) and Navarre (2005-07) prior to becoming the Raiders head coach, Lashley did not rule out the possibility of returning to the sidelines as an assistant in the future.

“As a head coach, there’s no off-switch,” Lashley said. “You’re mentally and physically doing something non-stop. With all the things that go into being a head coach and having a young family, it’s tough.

“I’m not done coaching, I know that,” Lashley said. “I haven’t gotten enough of that out of my system. I’m not disgruntled or unhappy with football. I just felt like I needed to step back from being a head coach for a little bit.”

In 2010, Lashley’s Raiders set school records for regular season wins (nine) and wins in a season (11). Navarre also notched its first-ever regular season win over arch-rival Pace and went on to capture its first-ever playoff win when it defeated Niceville, then the reigning Class 4A state runner-up, 28-7 at Eagle Stadium.

Navarre’s magical season ended in a 34-33 triple-overtime road loss at the hands of eventual state champion Tallahassee Lincoln.

It was also during that 2010 campaign that Lashley helped navigate the Raiders through the emotional rollercoaster of the diagnosis and, later, death of teammate Ian Lockwood, who succumbed to brain cancer Jan. 28. It was during the weeks and months that followed the 2010 season that Lashley said he first began to seriously consider stepping down.

“Every coach goes through situations where you have good years and you have bad years, you’re going to feel worn down,” Lashley said. “I could tell this was different.”

Murphy said the school hoped to name Lashley’s replacement in time for the second semester, which begins Jan. 23. According to Murphy, current Navarre assistant coaches Aaron Daniel and Greg Taylor have already stated their interest in the opening.

“They will be interviewed,” Murphy said. “One of them might get (the job). We will open it up to see who’s interested.”