None — Ashbrook is searching for a head football coach after the resignation of Mike Briggs.
Briggs, coach for the last five seasons, resigned Friday in a move not announced by the school but confirmed Monday by principal Page Carver.
"Things aren't getting done like they probably need to get done," Briggs said. "The best thing for me to do was resign."
Briggs, 52, remains a physical education teacher at Ashbrook.
Ashbrook went 26-36 under Briggs, including a 4-8 mark last season, when the Green Wave started 0-3 and 1-5 but won its final two regular-season games to reach the playoffs. Ashbrook then dropped its first-round matchup against South Point in overtime, 21-14, giving the eventual state champions their closest playoff game.
The timing of Briggs' resignation is peculiar considering more than four months had elapsed since Ashbrook's last game. Asked if he was forced to resign, Briggs said, "I think it was pretty definite that they wanted to go in a new direction."
Carver would not comment on whether Briggs was asked to resign.
Whether Briggs will stay at the school next year is uncertain. He said he'll be eligible for full retirement at the end of this academic year, but he wouldn't rule out staying at Ashbrook or moving to another school as a teacher and assistant coach. He is not interested in pursuing another head coaching job.
"I just know there's a lot of pressure on me relieved," Briggs said. "I work so hard to get these kids scholarships, and I'm still working on them. It's not like I've quit on these kids."
Briggs guided Ashbrook to the 2005 Big South Conference championship. In 2007, he coached Ashbrook to the third round of the playoffs. The Green Wave exited in the first round his other four seasons.
The school will form a team to find a replacement coach. The job will appear on the N.C. High School Athletic Association's vacancy list.
"We'll have an open search," Carver said. "We'll certainly take applications and letters of interest from inside and outside."
Last year's Ashbrook assistant coaches were Nick Entas, Tommy Bolin, Randy Thompson, Tommy Germain, Chad Garrigan, Lee Wells, Matt Dow and Kevin Dotterer.
The school doesf not have a specific timetable for naming a replacement. Although official practice can't begin before Aug. 2, offseason workouts are already under way at most schools.
"We certainly want to fill it as soon as possible," Carver said.
Briggs believes the next head coach will inherit a talented roster, especially with two high-profile athletes returning from a defense that ranked as one of the best around.
Linebacker/defensive lineman Norkeithus Otis, last year's Big South 3A Conference defensive player of the year, is a junior. He's received 11 Division I offers, including Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech and six other ACC schools.
Also returning will be linebacker Zeek Bigger, who has received offers from Auburn, Louisville, South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.
"They're very good," Briggs said. "Very good football team coming back and it'll be due to senior leaders coming back."
Briggs came to Ashbrook as an assistant coach in 2000. He took over as head coach for Joe Shepherd after the 2004 season.
Prior to his Ashbrook stint, Briggs served as head coach at North Gaston from 1995 to 1999, assistant coach at Lincolnton from 1990 to 1994 and football assistant and baseball head coach at Shelby from 1981 to 1989. Briggs graduated from Gardner-Webb in 1979.
Ashbrook under Mike Briggs
2005: 6-6, 5-1 Big South
2006: 4-8, 2-4 Big South
2007: 8-6, 4-2 Big South
2008: 4-8, 2-4 Big South
2009: 4-8, 3-3 Big South
Totals: 26-36, 16-14
This article was provided by our newspaper partner the Gaston Gazette.