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FAIRFIELD — Fairfield High School’s Aaron Fitzstephens announced his resignation as football coach.
“This was a very difficult decision for me,” Fitzstephens said Wednesday afternoon following a team meeting in which he informed his players of the news. “I made this decision to spend more time with my young family and pursue an opportunity outside of football.”
Fairfield Athletic Director Mark Harden said he was surprised by Fitzstephens’ decision but understands it.
“He’s not leaving because he’s disgruntled and he’s not leaving to coach somewhere else,” Harden said. “He has an opportunity outside of football he really felt he needed to pursue. He has a young family at home, and any time you have a young family you have to balance that family at home with the family at school.”
Fitzstephens and his wife, Sarah, have three children ages 5, 3 and 1.
A 1998 Fairfield graduate, Fitzstephens took over as coach in 2009 and led the Indians to more wins (eight) in his two seasons than the program had won in the previous four.
“I can’t say enough great things about the Fairfield administration, and specifically AD Mark Harden and Principal Billy Smith,” said Fitzstephens, who will continue to teach physical education at the high school. “They’re both first-class individuals and I have no doubt they’ll do their best to bring the best football coach possible to Fairfield.”
Harden said the opening will be posted internally and if there are no viable candidates “then we’ll open it up outside and we’ll go try to find a good one.”
“We hope to wrap it up as soon as we can,” Harden added. “I think it’s a great job still. It’s going to be an attractive job to somebody.”
Fitzstephens concurred.
“Everyone from the players to the parents to the boosters has been great,” he said. “Fairfield got a bad rap there for awhile, but that was not my experience at all. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with.
“I care about this position and I care about every one of those boys deeply, and I want what’s best for Fairfield football.”
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