Copperas Cove HS head softball coach Shelly Hayes resigns

After just one year as Copperas Cove High School's head softball coach, Shelly Hayes has resigned, effective immediately.

"I told the girls after the bi-district series. I couldn't lead them on," said Hayes, "but I didn't want to tell them until after the season."

Hayes led the Lady Dawgs to their first playoff appearance since 2008 with a fourth-place finish in District 8-5A at 8-6. Copperas Cove (18-17 overall) took on Mansfield Timberview in a best-of-three bi-district series last weekend in Waco and fell in two-straight games, ending the season.

"Shelly Hayes and the softball coaching staff did a great job in getting our softball team back to the playoffs," said CCISD girls athletic coordinator Tracy Ranes. "We understand her situation and her need to be close to her family."

Hayes said she intends to continue coaching softball, most likely in the San Antonio area.

"There are some opportunities to do so and I'm exploring those," she said. "There are some family issues and I need to get closer to my family. This has nothing to do with the girls..with anything they did. They have good players coming back and they can continue in the playoffs, if they want to."