All Kasey Parker wants to do is get closer to home. She will do that when she leaves Brundidge Friday on her final day as the Pike County Lady Bulldogs volleyball and girls’ basketball coach.

The Pike County Schools Board of Education accepted Parker’s resignation May 18 and her last day is Friday.

She took a position as the head volleyball coach at Class 6A Smiths Station.

“My mom and dad live in Auburn and I graduated from Auburn so this was just a great opportunity to get back home,” Parker said. “And Smiths Station is known for its girls’ athletics. This is just a good career move for me.”

Parker may be leaving Brundidge after only one year, but she said she has formed some relationships that will last a lifetime in her short time in the city.

“I am going to miss the girls because we developed that good coach-player bond,” Parker said. “I wish them the best of luck in the coming years. I would also like to thank Dr. (Mike) Hall and Dr. (Mark) Bazzell for the opportunity they gave me at Pike County.”

Parker said she would also like to thank all the parents who supported the volleyball and basketball teams.

“I want to thank everyone at Pike County that helped me along the way,” she said.

Moving from Class 3A Pike County to Class 6A Smiths Station was strictly a career move that got her closer to her parents.

“They are a 6A school that has a great girls’ athletic program and this move gets me closer to my family,” Parker said. “It is just a good situation for me.”

Parker will teach health at Smiths Station and her last official day as a Lady Bulldog is Friday.

She said she has to get to Smiths Station before the summer begins for summer workouts.