Steve Haug has been thinking about leaving for three years, but on May 26 it became official. Haug is no longer the head softball coach for the Charles Henderson Lady Trojans.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but 16 years is a long time and I think it is time for someone else to take the reins,” Haug said. “I have been trying to talk myself into resigning for the past three years, but I just couldn’t do it until now.”

The Troy City Schools Board of Education accepted Haug’s resignation Tuesday during a special meeting.

Haug has been the leader of the Lady Trojans for the past 16 years and he led the team to the state finals six times in his first 12 years.

The highest finish for the Lady Trojans during that span was fifth and it accomplished that feat twice.

The Lady Trojans ran into the eventual state champion or runner-up in every trip to

“When I took over the team they had gone through four coaches in four years,” Haug said. “I have enjoyed being the coach and it was a great job to have, but it is time to give someone with fresh ideas the chance to coach these girls.”

Haug said he loves coaching softball, but he needed to “lighten his load” for family reasons.

“I am really going to miss going out to the ball park every day,” he said. “It is going to be really hard, but it is time to move on and I want to spend more time with my family.”

Haug will still be the Charles Henderson High School cross country coach and he is not leaving his position as the Troy Elementary School physical education teacher.