Pike Liberal Arts headmaster Ceil Sikes confirmed Wayne Grant officially resigned from the head football coach and athletic director position Thursday morning.

Sikes said Grant’s resignation is effective immediately and assistant Gene Allen will assume head coaching responsibilities for Pike Lib.

“I wish Coach Grant well in all his future endeavors,” Sikes said. “He is sure to be successful in the future, and we appreciate what he did in his time here.”

Sources close to the football program say Grant informed the players of his decision on Wednesday following a workout session. Grant, who won five Alabama High School Athletics Association state titles during two different stints at nearby Pike County High School, led the Patriots to a 1-9 record in 2012.

Allen, who led Greenville to back-to-back AHSAA state title games in 1993 and 1994, has numerous seasons of head coaching experience at Greenville, Lee-Montgomery and Talladega.

“We are very fortunate to have a person like Coach Allen available in this situation,” Sikes said. “He has over 14 years of not only coaching experience, but also as athletic director. He will help us through the transition.”

Allen led the team through practice on Thursday morning and said that he and the players are concentrating on football, not outside distractions.

“To be a good football team, you have to deal with some adversity,” Allen said. “We have some of that going on right now, but this group of kids is not letting it bother them. They will continue to work hard, keep their heads high.”

Grant could not be reached for comment.

Read more about Allen’s plans for the Pike Lib football team in Sports on page 5.