BELLE FOURCHE - Citing pressure from what he called a "very vocal" parental group, Belle Fourche high school football Jody Grubb has resigned.

Grubb's resignation was submitted and accepted at Monday night's meeting of the Belle Fourche school board, according to athletic director Clay Anderson.

"It's been a long year," Grubb said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

"There's a specific group of parents, and they have been very vocal to say the least," he said. "I just got tired of battling them and trying to get the kids ready.

"The kids have been great," he said. "That's the best thing about coaching. They're why you do this"

Grubb mentored the Broncs to a

9-15 record during his two years as head coach. He was an assistant to Doug Hughes for seven years before taking over as head coach for the 2005 season.

The Broncs lost in the quarterfinal round of the state Class 11A football during the past two years. Belle Fourche has one 11A state grid title, in 1983.

Grubb, 41, is a graduate of Sturgis Brown High School. As a junior, Grubb was a member of the Scooper team that made it to the State Class AA football finals before losing to Brookings.

Grubb also played offensive guard and center at Northern State.

His coaching resume includes a two-year stint at Winner as an assistant under Harvey Naasz, including the Warriors' state championship year of 1989, and also as assistant to Mike Paris at Sturgis in 1994-95, when the Scoopers made it to the semi-final round of he "AA" playoffs.

Grubb plans to continue as a throws coach for the track team and teach English at the high school.

Anderson said the search for a

successor is just beginning.

"We lose a valuable coach with a lot of experience at the high school and college level," Anderson said. "He will be very difficult to replace."