02/10/2025
This is not the message I wanted to share, but after a lot of thought, I have made the decision to step down as Head Football Coach at South Charleston High School.
To my players - you are the reason I took this job, and you are the reason I gave everything I had to it. When I became your coach, the program was in a tough spot. The roster was young, the competition was experienced, and the challenges were real. But you never backed down. You showed up, you put in the work, and you fought through adversity with heart and resilience.
I know some people will look at wins and losses, but I look at the growth I’ve seen in each of you. I saw freshmen and sophomores step onto the field against older, more experienced teams and refuse to quit. I saw a group of young men who learned from every challenge and came back stronger each time . I saw a team that stood together, played with pride, and built something bigger than just football.
No , the wins didn’t come overnight. That’s the reality of a true rebuild. But progress was happening- penalties were down, game scores improved, and for the first time in years, players chose to stay. That’s a foundation for success, and it’s something that no one can take away from you.
But for a program to succeed, it takes more than just effort from the players and coaches - it takes stability , trust, and support from school leadership. Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case, and I’ve come to the realization that I can no longer continue in this role. As much as I love coaching this team, I refuse to lead a program where the foundation is constantly shifting.
That doesn’t change how I feel about you. You are, and always will be, my players. I hope you continue to push yourselves, lift each other up, and play this game with the same heart and pride I’ve seen in you every day.
I may not be your coach anymore, but I’ll always be rooting for you.
Coach Dustin Resler
