North Surry men’s basketball coach Chris Butler announced his resignation as coach to his players and North Surry staff Wednesday.

Butler had been coach for seven years, and before that he was an assistant coach for the women’s team for three years and an assistant coach for the men’s team for one year.

His overall record as head coach was 117-72 with one regular season conference championship and conference tournament championship to his name.

He will continue his duties as a social studies teacher for the school.

“It was basically just a decision to spend more time with my wife and kids,” Butler said. “It’s something I’ve been thinking about since the end of the season, and it just came down to having the ability to be more involved in their activities.”

North Surry High School principal Bill Goins nor athletic director Shane Slate said they were surprised by his decision.

“I think he wants to spend some more time with his family,” Goins said. “I think anybody can understand that, I certainly understand that.”

Slate said this was something that an athletic director and principal are always prepared for due to the time demands it takes to coach a team.

Current players were prepared for this news as well.

“I don’t think they were shocked by the decision,” Butler said. “I explained my decision, and especially some of the older guys had known about the possibility.”

North Surry had a bit of a tumultuous basketball season this year with one of its best players, J.B. Coram, facing felony charges including breaking and entering. Though no official suspension was ever announced, Coram did not finish the season with the team.Slate declined to comment on whether this played any role in his decision.

Now comes the process of finding a new head boy’s basketball coach.

There is no time-table set just yet to make a decision, and Goins and Slate plan to meet soon to discuss the matter.

Goins said it depends on many factors such as if there are teacher openings at the school.

“You would prefer to have the head coaches on staff, so that they’re here for the kids,” Goins said. “If you have an issue with the kid, they can help with that, that’s a better way to do things.”

Butler said he will miss his time as a head coach, but it is a real possibility that he could still be a part of a team in an assistant’s role.

“I think I’ll miss just spending time with young men and watching them progress both on and off the court.”

Goins, who hired Butler, said he was pleased with Butler’s tenure as head coach.

“I think he’s done a good job with our program,” Goins said. “He’s respected among our students and our staff at North Surry.”