Tennessee Temple Academy boys’ basketball coach Caleb Marcum has resigned to accept the head coaching job at St. Benedict, a Division II school in Cordova, Tenn., near Memphis.

Marcum, a 2000 Temple graduate, had been the Crusaders’ head coach the last two seasons. He guided them to the Class A state tournament each year, including a runner-up finish last season.

“I didn’t want to leave Temple. I never did,” Marcum said. “That was not an easy decision. There’s a lot of kids there that I care about, and the coaches. I’ve been here for 10 years, finished high school here and went to college here, and Chattanooga has been home.

“It wasn’t easy for me at all, but I just felt like I needed to make this move for my family.”

Marcum compiled a 51-17 overall record at Temple, which won the District 5-A and Region 3 championships his first season.

St. Benedict finished 10-15 last season and competes in a tough D-II West Tennessee region.

“Everybody knows that basketball in that area is very strong,” Marcum said. “But I love the challenge, and even though I’m sad to leave family and friends here, I’m excited because it’s a program that can be built into one of the best in the state.”

Mark Alexander, who was a boys’ assistant and the girls’ head coach last season, is a potential successor at Temple.