By Staff
By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
Former Southside football coach DeWayne Kellum explained his surprising resignation on Thursday saying simply that, “It was just time to move on,” during a phone interview with the Washington Daily News.
The Seahawks’ skipper said that he enjoyed his time as Southside’s coach.
Kellum said he is looking forward to having the fall off and watching his 12-year-old son Cole play football for Chocowinity Middle School.
Kellum wouldn’t say that he is retiring from football, but did say that he definitely won’t be coaching football this year.
Though Kellum, a football lifer, said he is looking forward to some off time, there have been hints that his departure from Southside football has come sooner than he would have liked.
Sources in Chocowinity have said that Kellum and his administrators have had misunderstandings for some time now.
Kellum handed in his resignation on Tuesday as the Seahawks’ football team was preparing to start mini-camp. Some have interpreted that move as a message of the former coach’s unhappiness with his situation.
Southside athletic director Larry Knox declined to get into specifics of the resignation in a phone interview on Wednesday night. Kellum took the same approach on Thursday when the subject was approached.
If things go according to plan, Kellum will have a new situation come this fall with another school.
Though he may be looking elsewhere, Kellum said he will never forget how many great moments he had with the Southside football team.
Kellum also said escorting his daughter Carmen during homecoming, and watching her cheerlead during the team’s 2002 state run was something he will always remember.
While he may not be the team’s skipper anymore, Kellum had a message to delver to his players.