CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Northwest High School football head coach Neil Furnish is resigning his position.

NWHS’ Athletic Department announced the decision in a news release Friday morning, the day after Furnish told the team he is stepping down to pursue other opportunities.

“This was absolutely a very hard decision,” Furnish told Clarksville Now. “I don’t believe there is ever a perfect time to make it, but with many obstacles facing myself at this time, I felt it was the best decision for myself and my future.”

Furnish has been at Northwest for three years, two of those as the head coach.

“Coach Furnish led teams that fought hard on the field and in the classroom,” the news release said.

“I first want to say thank you to all the young men and women that I had the privilege to work with at Northwest High School,” Furnish said in the release. “I have learned many things in my short time at NW and I pray that I have made a positive impact on my students and the student athletes in the game of football.

“I would also like to thank the parents that supported me and the young men who bought into me and my coaching staff over the past two seasons. Thank you all and best wishes to the future successes of all that attend Northwest High School,” Furnish said.

Furnish is originally from Cynthiana, Kentucky, where he played football at Harrison County High School. After graduation, he played college football for two years at Eastern Kentucky University.

Furnish, an Algebra I teacher at Northwest, served as an assistant coach in the 2018 season. He is married to Amy Furnish, a teacher and head volleyball coach for Northwest.

“On the coaching side of things, I believed we had a great staff and a young group of athletes that where truly buying into to change of the culture at Northwest,” Furnish told Clarksville Now. “There is a great group of young talent that can accomplish whatever they want if they commit to the process and stick together for the next couple of years.”

As for what’s next, Furnish plans to return home to Kentucky and continue his career in education.

“My goal will always be to help young people see their true potential and help them create opportunities for themselves, so they have a chance to make great choices when they leave high school,” he said.

Athletic Director Jason Greene said, “We are grateful for the work Coach Furnish has done with our football program and for the impact he has made on our students and community.”

Chris Smith contributed to this report.