Martins Ferry will have a new girls' basketball coach when the season begins in November.
After eight years at the helm, Dave Reasbeck submitted his letter of resignation, which is expected to be acted upon at Monday's board of education meeting.
"This isn't just something that came on out of nowhere," Reasbeck said. "I told my team after our sectional game that it might be time for them to hear a new voice, so I didn't arrive at this decision overnight."
The Lady Riders were 92-69 under Reasbeck's watch. They qualified for three Wheeling Hospital OVAC Basketball Championships, winning the 2009 title against St. Clairsville. They fell in the inaugural title game in 2008 to Barnesville.
Reasbeck's biggest regret is the fact his team never advanced out of the sectional tournament.
"It seemed like we always dealt with a lot of injuries by the time the sectional rolled around," Reasbeck said. "We always battled and I don't have any regrets in that way, but the fact that we never made it past the sectional bothers me."
Though he gave them ample warning that the decision could be forthcoming, Reasbeck admitted his returning players were in somewhat of "shock" when he informed them he had tendered his resignation.
"They didn't believe me," Reasbeck said. "Some of them are probably mad about it, but once the new coach comes in, they'll forget about me."
Whoever takes over the Lady Riders' program is taking over a club, which qualified for the conference tournament a season ago as a second seed. Ferry also returns the area's leading girls' scorer in Jessica Kinney along with four other starters.
"The cupboard certainly isn't bare," Reasbeck pointed out. "There's a lot returning, but I just thought the time was right for me to step aside. I just don't want to coach girls basketball at Martins Ferry anymore."
Reasbeck, who was an assistant boys' basketball coach before taking the girls' job, had nothing but gratitude and high praise for his trusted coaching staff of Rick Douglas, Greg Harkness and Tube Davis.
"I can't say enough about my coaching staff," Reasbeck said. "They worked hard and we enjoyed a lot of success together."
He also spoke highly of the Martins Ferry administration, including Superintendent Dirk Fitch, Principal Jeff Oberdick and the three athletic directors he worked under, Warren Hood, Dave Bruney and Kim Appolloni.
"I worked for great people," Reasbeck said. "I look back at it very positively."
As for his future, Reasbeck, who is only 33 years old, hopes to coach again.
"I'll coach anything," Reasbeck said. "I've still got the fire to coach, but it was time for me to step aside as girls' coach at Martins Ferry. Actually, I think I've got a greater fire to coach now than ever before."
Dave and his wife Danielle will celebrate their one-year anniversary this August.
