Chris Lachney resigns as Riverside head football coach

One of the top football programs in the state in Division III will have its third head coach in three years in 2018.

Chris Lachney resigning after just one year as head coach at Riverside. Lachney came to Riverside in 2012 as defensive coordinator under Bill Stubbs. The Rebels reached the state title game in 2015 and won the state championship in 2016 under Stubbs. After the season, Stubbs retired after the 2016 season and Lachney was promoted to head coach. Lachney’s decision was family related.

Lachney previously served as head coach at Pope John Paul II, serving four years and posting a 20-19 record before serving as an assistant coach at Brother Martin under Jay Pittman and Mark Bonis.

“Six years ago, I came to Riverside Academy and I heard everyone tell me what it could be. It was extremely fun and humbling to watch an alignment from the top down with everyone on the same page and the results followed. I am most grateful for the relationships with coaches and students, more so than the results. This is a great place with unique people that I will miss greatly. Thanks to Timmy Byrd for giving me the opportunity to work here. He is a hell of a leader and athletic director. He is a master at managing and working with people.”

Riverside athletic director and head basketball coach Timmy Byrd is sorry to lose Lachney.

“I hate to see him go but I understand with his wife and a new child,” Byrd said. “We deeply appreciate what Chris has contributed to our football program and the school. He did a excellent job for us. We will begin work immediately on finding a replacement for what is an excellent job at an outstanding school.”

Riverside had an uneven season, playing just seven regular season games in 2017 due to a broken contract and a game canceled due to weather. The Rebels reached the Division III semifinals, losing to Notre Dame to complete a 5-5 season against a brutal schedule which included Archbishop Rummel, Barbe, De La Salle, Dunham, Newman, Notre Dame and Southern Lab.

Lachney is not done with coaching.

“I will take some time and weigh some options and see what the best situation is for my family and I,” Lachney said. “We (wife Tori and I) just had a daughter (Blake Marie) five weeks ago. Priorities change. That is certainly true in my life.”