Mack Gardner has resigned as the head Girls Basketball coach at Brookhaven Academy after two season of service.

Gardner submitted the resignation as head coach earlier this week to BA principal and Athletic Direct Casey Edwards.

After a tough decision, Mack decided to return home to be with his fiancée.

“I want to thank you to all my players for all of their hard work and dedication,” said Gardner. “I want to also thank Brookhaven Academy’s headmaster Julie Wright, principal Casey Edwards, former AD Tripp McCarty and former board President Beck Warren for their support the last two years.

“I will always be grateful for the opportunity that I was given at Brookhaven Academy” continued Gardner. “I will truly miss everyone, but I believe it is time for me to relocate to be with my fiancée. I wish the best of luck to everyone at Brookhaven Academy.”

Gardner took over the reins as the girls basketball coach, two years ago. When he replaced Bruce Allsup, whom coached BA for only one season, leading the Lady Cougars to a 9-20 record.

In Gardner’s two seasons as BA’s girls head basketball coach. He directed the Lady Cougars to a 20-16 season in his first year as coach. The girls were eliminated by Kirk Academy in MAIS State AA Tournament in Winona.

In Gardner’s second season, the Lady Cougars kicked off the 2014-2015 season very young, with only four seniors on the team and the rest were sophomores and juniors.

Prior to first game of the season, Gardner lost all four seniors to injuries. Working with only his young freshmen and sophomore players, the Lady Cougars scratch and claw through the first half of the season.

In the second half of the season, Gardner managed to get his whole team back healthy and well, just in time for district action. The Lady Cougars roared through their district schedule to finish second in the race and in tournament action.

Brookhaven Academy advanced and hosted the MAIS South AA State tournament. Coach Gardner’s girls placed third in the tournament and advanced to the MAIS State AA Tournament at Canton Academy.

Prior to the first contest of the state tournament, The Lady Cougars (14-22) were rewarded with their hard work and determination as they worked their way up in the MAIS AA poll to No. 8.

The Lady Cougars unfortunately lost in the opening round of the tournament to the eventual State AA champion Leake Academy 75-56.

But don’t let the score fool you, the Lady Cougars would give the Lady Rebels everything they could handle before running out of gas with three minutes left in the fourth quarter.