Greg PayneGreg Payne delivered a personal decision that likely surprised McCallie School administrators and definitely shocked the local and state high school baseball community.
He resigned after four consecutive state tournament trips and a state championship, and when contacted Thursday morning he was cleaning out his office.
"When you put so much pressure on yourself to win and you don't win, it becomes a lot less enjoyable than you want it to be," Payne said.
The Blue Tornado compiled a 103-39 record under Payne, an average of close to 26 wins per season despite competing in the state's always tough Division II-AA.
"The McCallie baseball team enjoyed tremendous success under Coach Payne's tutelage, and we feel the program is in good shape for the next few years. We wish him nothing but success and happiness," McCallie athletic director Jeff Romero said.
In a release, a school spokesman said a search for Payne's successor would begin soon.
"This is an amazing job at an amazing place," Payne said.
He also had special words for the McCallie administration and his coaching staff.
"(Upper school principal) Kenny Sholl allowed me to have the best staff," Payne said of assistants Tom Adams, Robert Long, Tim Costo and Chris Edge. "Those guys are amazing and we worked together to make a great team. I don't think there's a better group of assistants anywhere, but I love those guys - not just as co-workers but as men and what they think and stand for."
The bottom line regarding his resignation may have been Payne's closeness to son Tyler, who played for him at McCallie and is now a starting infielder at Lee University.
"I loved last season and I loved the kids on that team, but it was the first coaching here without Tyler and he and I have such a great relationship," Payne said. "I know other coaches have gone through this with their children, but he was playing right up the road and I couldn't watch."
He may return to coaching later but is undecided.
"I'm not going to teach and coach, at least not in the near future," he said. "I might be interested in a job a little more out of the spotlight."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.