Wes Jones resigns as Hardin Valley football coach

Aaron Torres
Knoxville

This story has been updated to include the correct day Jones confirmed his resignation. 

Wes Jones has resigned as Hardin Valley's football coach after 10 seasons, he confirmed Thursday evening. Jones, 44, started the Hardin Valley football program in 2009. 

Jones said it was a very tough decision to leave the program he started. He will be an assistant coach at Science Hill. 

"It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to start a football program from the very beginning and to be the only head coach in the school's history," Jones said in a telephone interview at his son's little league practice. "I'm at a point in my career where I felt it was time to step back ... just go back to teaching, being an assistant coach, have a little bit more time to watch my kids play ball."

Hardin Valley coach, Wes Jones looks on from the sideline during a 6A playoff game at Hardin Valley Academy on Friday, November 11, 2016

Jones led the Hawks to a 6-5 record last season. Hardin Valley lost in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs to Ooltewah. 

Jones said he didn't start thinking about resigning until the spring. He has five children, and they range from 5 to 20 years old. 

"They're involved in sports, and it's just been real difficult to try to be a dad and be a head football coach and a track coach," Jones said. 

Jones addressed his team Thursday afternoon. Hardin Valley's best record under Jones was 9-4 in 2016, when the Hawks made it to the 6A quarterfinals. He was 56-54 in his time as Hardin Valley's coach. Jones reached the playoffs seven times at Hardin Valley.

"I’m very proud of where we are at at Harden Valley and where we've come from," Jones said.