Stuart Cunningham stepped down as Habersham Central football coach on Wednesday, according to the school’s athletic director Amy Hood. The four-year Raiders coach met with players and staff members the same day to inform them of his decision.

Habersham Central posted a 1-9 record in 2012, its first playing as a Class AAAAAA school, and Cunningham posted a 14-27 record during his time as head coach.

“He said it was the best decision for his family,” Hood said.

Cunningham led the Raiders to the first round of the Class AAAA state playoffs in 2011, before making the jump to the state’s largest classification.

Hood says that she has already met with school system superintendant Matthew Cooper and Habersham Central principal Jim VanHooser. She indicated no strict timetable for hiring the new football coach.

They will entertain applicants from inside and outside of the program, and will also post it online, according to Hood.

Even though Cunningham is stepping down as head football coach, he will remain at the school as a faculty member and head wrestling coach.