Citing a desire to coach his grandson in football, Westgate High head football coach and athletic director Brian Fine tendered his resignation Wednesday to head back to North Louisiana.

Fine, who spent five years as Westgate’s head football coach and reached the Class 5A semifinals three times, will return to the Farmerville area this fall to help start the football program at D’Arbonne Woods Charter School

“The school is two years old and they don’t have athletics yet,” said Fine. 

“They’re going to start an athletic program from scratch. It’s kind of like what Westgate did. I’ll have a ninth grade program next year and we’ll go from there.”

Fine thought that it was going to take at least three or four years before the school started an athletic program but found out the school wanted to start the athletic program a little earlier than planned.

“They called me and I applied and went to talk to them and got the job,” said Fine, whose former school just completed spring football drills Friday of last week.

The coach said the opportunity came about late in the school year but it was just one of those things about the timing that the D’Arbonne Woods job came open.

In the end, it was just too good of an opportunity for the former WHS coach.

“I really couldn’t pass up an opportunity to coach my grandchildren,” said Fine. “I was able to coach all of my children through school and I didn’t think that I was going to get the opportunity to coach my grandchildren.

“This charter school opened up about two years ago and they (the grandchildren) got in and when that happened I thought I may get the opportunity. It just happened a little sooner than I expected.”

Fine said he is going to miss his time at Westgate and the kids that he taught and his rapport with the administration. He said Westgate was a great fit for him and that nothing compared to what he and the team was able to accomplish.

“We went to the semifinals three times and were so close to getting to the state championship game in 2009,” said Fine. “But if they get the right people in here they will continue to have success.

“They should have an outstanding football team next year. It will be a tough transition and it will be difficult for the kids because change is always difficult. But they’ll adapt and I’m sure they’ll get someone who’s highly qualified.”

Westgate High also is looking for a new principal after the resignation of current principal Dr. James Gray to take a position with the Vermilion Parish School Board.