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Rowlett's Hardin steps down as head football coach
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
Rowlett head football coach Kiff Hardin said Wednesday that he has stepped down from that position.
Hardin, 52, who has led the Eagles since the 2001 season, said he is retiring from coaching to pursue other endeavors.
"I just felt it was the right time," said Hardin, who told his team on Monday. "I have been fortunate to have been around great coaches and great players and young men, but it is time to move on to a new chapter."
When the school district receives the official notification, it can post the job on the GISD website and begin accepting applications.
Hardin won a state championship at Gatesville before succeeding Tommy Watkins as the second head coach in Rowlett school history in 2001.
Hardin compiled a 68-65 record in 12 seasons and led the Eagles to new heights, taking them to the playoffs for the first time in 2005.
Rowlett has since made the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons, advancing past the first round four times.
In 2007, Hardin led the Eagles to a memorable 37-32 victory over state-ranked and undefeated Allen in the bi-district round at Texas Stadium. Last season, Rowlett made its deepest postseason run, advancing to the regional semifinals before falling to Spring Westfield, 33-25.
This season, the Eagles rallied from a 1-6 start with three consecutive wins down the stretch to extend its playoff streak but fell in the Class 5A Division II bi-district round with a 27-6 loss to Longview on Saturday.
"I've known for a while and I am comfortable with it," Hardin said. "It wasn't easy, but I just thought it was time to move on to something different."
Hardin graduated from Fredericksburg High School in 1977 and Angelo State in 1981. He started his coaching career at Travis Middle School in Temple and moved to Pearsall High School as an assistant in 1984.
Hardin took over head coaching duties at Pearsall in 1987, where he led the team to four playoff appearances before taking over the position at Gatesville in 1997.
In four seasons at Gatesville, he compiled a 43-8 record, advancing to the state semifinals in 1999 and winning the Class 3A Division I state championship with a perfect 15-0 record in 2000.
A year later, he moved on to Rowlett for 12 seasons, where he finished his coaching career with a 140-103-1 record.
While Hardin said he has other career interests, he has no immediate plans.
"Right now, I'm just looking forward to relaxing," he said.
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