Less than a month after leading the Zion Chapel Lady Rebels to a runner-up finish at the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Tournament, head coach Chelsi Jones has decided to scale things back.

Jones turned her resignation letter last week to the Coffee County Schools Board, citing a want to spend more time with her young children. Jones will still serve as a kindergarten teacher at Zion Chapel, as well as maintaining her role as coach of the ZCHS cheer squad.

“I poured my heart in to that program, and love it and those girls dearly,” Jones said. “I was just not at home as much as I wanted to be. My husband and I prayed about this for a long time, and I feel it is what the Lord wants me to do.”

Jones build the Zion Chapel softball program in to a state power, resulting in the runner-up finish in the AHSAA tourney in May.

After taking over a few years ago, Jones said she noticed something right off the bat.

“There are always great athletes here at Zion, but they just needed someone to teach them how to win” Jones said. “We were able to do that, but it was never about Chelsi Jones. I did it for them, so that they could be winners.”

Bradley Bowers, Zion Chapel athletic director, said the school is thankful for the contributions Jones made to the softball program.

“She built this softball team from the ground up,” Bowers said. “She was always looking forward to the future of the program, and always had the had the best interest of the girls, team and school in mind. We can’t say enough about her to let her know what she means to Zion Chapel.”