After five successful years at the helm of Brookhaven footballfortunes, Greg Wall is stepping down. Wall has been coaching for 30years and came to Brookhaven after 25 years at South Pike.

Wall, 54, submitted his resignation to Brookhaven superintendentDr. Sam Bounds. Wall told his players Monday afternoon that hewould not be returning to coach them.

Wall said he was undecided about his future plans. He has enoughyears in education to draw a retirement pension.

“I don’t have anything definite at this time,” said Wall. “Ifelt it was time for me to leave. I wanted to let Dr. Bounds know.I didn’t want to postpone my decision.”

Wall’s contract runs through June. “I want to help the new coachget his feet on the ground. The budget needs to be lined up for thenext school year.”

South Pike is in the market for a head coach since ClarenceMorgan resigned last month. Morgan coached with Wall for 24 yearsbefore replacing him at the helm. Wall coached 25 years at SouthPike, winning two state championships in 1989 and 19992. The Eagleswere runners-up in 1986 and 1994.

At Brookhaven, Wall compiled a 35-17 record. His first BHS teamfinished 4-6. The Panthers went 12-1 in 1997, reaching the SouthState Class 4A championship game before losing to Northeast Jones.They were 8-2 in 1998 and 4-5 in 1999.

Wall’s 2000 team exceeded all expectations and finished 7-3,advancing to the Class 4A state playoffs.

“This past year really made up for a lot of things. Our kidswere overachievers.”

Wall said he had made many friends in Brookhaven and it was adifficult decision to leave. He has a home across the street fromthe South Pike campus and made the daily commute to Brookhaven.

Wall is married and his wife, Betsy, teaches world history atSouth Pike. They have two children. Brinson is a junior high coachat South Pike and Mary Helen is in her second year of law school atOle Miss.

“I thought about Brookhaven a lot,” said Wall. “When I came uphere I only knew about three people and they were coaches.

“I don’t think I have met nicer people than here in Brookhaven.It’s been a joy for me to make so many new friends,” Wallcontinued.

“I appreciate the opportunity Dr. Bounds and the school boardgave me to come here and coach,” said Wall. “We have some goodcoaches in here right off the bat. Coach (Randall) Huffman is agood worker and he took care of the defense.

“We got some good young coaches in and most of them stayed withus.”

Bounds said Wall would be missed. “Anytime you lose one of thewinning coaches in the state, it is a great loss,” said Bounds.”When Greg came on board, he promised four years. I’m delighted hedecided to stay five.”

Bounds said there would be no set time frame for the hiring of anew head coach and athletic director. “We hope to have someonehired before spring practice.”