ELLENBORO - They're called tough decisions for a reason and no one understands that better than Ritchie County head volleyball coach Marsha Knight.

Following a decade long tenure at the helm of the Rebels, which included capturing the 2004 Class AA state volleyball crown, coach Knight has decided to step away from the sport.

"We have everybody back and people are telling me I'm crazy," Knight said of giving up the job.

"But, I'm like well it may not be a bad thing to get out and let someone like Katrina (White) take over. It's a good time."

Of course, White has been an assistant coach along with Stephanie Seese for several seasons and actually played under coach Knight at Ritchie County.

"I've watched her evolve from being a player to turning into a very good coach. I'm excited for her," Knight said of White.

"She doesn't have the job yet, but I'm very hopeful she will get it. She's had opportunities to go other places and coach, but she was waiting for her opportunity to coach here."

Coach Knight's resignation won't be official until the Ritchie County Board of Education meets in July, although she did turn her letter into county superintendent Bob Daquilante.

Knight said she's had a lot of fond memories through the years while coaching at RCHS, but realized a hard decision had to be made after her son Benjamin, a Rebel golfer who will be in the sixth grade this year, reminded his mother she wouldn't be anywhere on the golf course following him around this fall.

"I didn't know how much longer I was going to coach, but that broke my heart," Knight admitted of thinking about not watching her son play any golf this season.

"I met with the girls and told them and that was about it. They all understood."

Even though her son wasn't exactly happy when he found out his mother had ended her coaching career, she knows everything will work out in the end.

"I'm going to miss the girls and watching them improve each day and being part of a successful program," said the coach.

"But, I think it's more important I spend my time watching him on the golf course. You can't just be a part-timer and I'm excited that I get to watch him play golf."