SPEARFISH - Dan Martin, the head boys' basketball coach at Spearfish High School, has resigned his position to accept the grades 7-12 principal's job in Shoshoni, Wyo.

Martin was the head coach in Spearfish for eight seasons, including winning the school's only state championship in 2002 with a squad led by Aaron Croff, Deming Haugland and Matt Martin.

"It was the toughest decision I've ever made up to this point to leave the Spearfish school district," Martin said. "It has been a great experience with great kids a great staff and most of all, a great community. It really has been a great situation for me and my family in so many ways."

But the opportunity to become the principal of the Shoshoni school was just too much for Martin to pass up.

"It's a good opportunity for us," Martin said of his wife Michelle and their family. "It's a beautiful location in Wyoming and it's an opportunity for me to grow professionally. The school will provide excellent opportunities for us."

Martin didn't completely rule out a future return to coaching, saying that it's always a possibility.

"Coaching is in my blood with being a third-generation coach," the son of long-time Dakota Wesleyan coach Doug Martin said. "The door is always open for a return to coaching but right now I'm just excited about the position that I've got and helping youth in the area anyway that I can."

The Spearfish school community is sad to see Martin go, but wished him success in his future endeavors.

"Coach Martin is a passionate coach who has been the driving force behind a successful Spearfish basketball program for a number of years so we hate to lose him," Spearfish activities director Karen Hahn said in an e-mail. "However, his goal has been to become a principal, so we congratulate him, thank him for all he did for Spearfish High School, and wish his family the best."