Woodlawn Football Coach Jimmy "Red" Parker turned in a letter of resignation Monday to Superintendent Billy Williams citing "family health issues" as his reason for stepping down.

Parker, 77, spent just one season at Woodlawn compiling a 7-4 record overall and guiding the Bears to the second round of the state playoffs after finishing third in the rugged 8-2A conference.

While saddened by the resignation, Williams said the move did not come as a surprise to him.

"We, as a district, knew coming in this was going to be touch-and-go with Coach Parker's situation," Williams said. "We just didn't want to deny our students the opportunity to be coached by someone who is considered a coaching legend in these parts.

"It's a situation where he's got to do what is best for his family... and Coach Parker also needs to do what is best for him," Williams added.

Williams said he will begin his search for a replacement in-house first and then go from there.

"We're going to evaluate our staff that is already on board and then decide if we are going to search outside the district," Williams said.

Parker got the Woodlawn job after former Coach Marion Glover stepped down due to family issues. Glover decided later to remain on staff as a part-time coach last season serving as defensive coordinator.

Williams said he prefers candidates with head coaching experience and will focus his search on that.

He said he expects to have a better feel for which direction the search will go by the time the Woodlawn School Board meets on Feb. 23.

"We especially want someone who can continue this path that has been set down by Coach Parker and Coach Glover," Williams said. "People now have expectations (about the Woodlawn football program)."

Woodlawn was mired in a string of winless and one-win seasons before Glover took over the helm four years ago. The Bears missed the playoffs during his first season but followed that with back-to-back 8-2A titles and two consecutive trips to the Class 2A quarter-finals.

The 2008 football season marked the third consecutive year for the Bears have won at least one playoff game.

During a school board meeting in December, Parker told the board he enjoyed his job but doctors had informed him his wife's health was deteriorating and that he may not be able to be away from his home as much. He told the board then that if was able to stay on, he would have to have a very flexible schedule.

Parker said during an interview Monday at The Herald that his wife's health has gotten to the point where the doctors don't want him more than five minutes away. Living in Fordyce, he said that would mean about a 35 to 45 minute commute if he were to remain at Woodlawn.

"I still want to coach," Parker said. "If I can find the right situation, I'll get back in it."

With his son living in Bryant and his daughter living in Hot Springs, Parker said he would like to find something in the Benton area so he could be close to both of them and they could be close to their mother. If he does, he said he would relocate his home to that area.

Parker said informed the team about his departure Monday afternoon and said he would stay on to help Williams find a replacement.

Parker issued the following statement concerning his departure:

"The emergence of pressing family health issues will require me to make several immediate and radical changes in my life. With this in mind, I must regrettably tender my resignation as head football coach at Woodlawn High School. It will be my intention to coach again and hopefully very soon, provided the family health issues can be worked out.

"In the meantime, I wish to express my deepest appreciation to Billy Williams, the Woodlawn School Board, faculty, staff and the parents and boosters for their unwavering support. Mostly though, I want to thank the players and coaches for the opportunity to work with them. You have reinforced my belief that nothing is out of reach, if we work hard and believe in each other. You are so 'special,' and I shall never forget you."

Parker said he believes the nucleus is there for the Bears to have another excellent season in 2009.

Woodlawn played its toughest schedule in school history last year, playing five teams that were ranked among the Top 5 in Class 2A at one time or another last season.

The Bears finished the year ranked no. 6 in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's final Class 2A "Super Six" ranking.

Williams said that success combined with the players that are coming back should help make the Woodlawn job be a little more enticing to potential candidates.