Five weeks after Franklin County’s season ended just outside of the playoffs, coach Danny Durham resigned.

Durham, who coached the Lions the last six seasons, said, “I’ve been coaching 19 years, just a decision to move on a little bit.” Durham turned in his resignation Wednesday to athletics director Jeff Davis and principal Diane Toney, who gave Durham the opportunity to stay at the school in another position.

“It’s just something I thought about for a while,” said Durham, 43, who teaches in the school’s physical education department. “Just talking with my wife over a period of three or four weeks. You can’t make decisions like that right afterwards.”

Durham added that he’s not 100 percent sure that he’d remain in coaching.

“There may be other opportunities,” he said.

Franklin’s season ended Nov. 9 with a loss to Monroe Area, which dropped its record to 4-6. The Lions went 18-32 under Durham including two 5-5 seasons, and a playoff appearance in 2006.

In the preseason, Durham refused to tab this year a rebuilding campaign despite the loss of 26 seniors. And behind a stingy defense, it appeared the Lions could make back-to-back playoff appearances after last season was their first in six years.

But Durham said he felt that the coaching staff got the most out of its talent.

“We had a very young team,” he said. “There were some times that we didn’t, but for the most part, I’d say, ‘yeah’ to that, overall.”

Davis said he understood Durham’s decision, especially when weighing more time to spend with his family. Durham has three children 12 and under.

“You can go back and coach,” Davis said. “But you can’t raise your kids but one time.”

Davis also said that Durham was, “everything you’d want on your campus,” and the coach left the program with upgraded facilities, and quality group of skill players.

“I want to win just as much as the next guy,” Davis said. “Obviously this is an unfortunate business. Once you take the job, you’re on a clock. He probably wishes he did better, but sometimes we get caught up in the wins and losses.”

Davis said the school would move forward with the opening after the holidays, and hopes to narrow the field in four to six weeks after the position is advertised.

“We don’t want to leave our program in limbo,” Davis said. “But I don’t want to hire the first person we talk to either.”