Coaching changes are in the works for the football team at Saint Mary’s High School.

Saint Mary’s head coach Tom Brittain was asked to step down on Nov. 4 after four seasons with the Knights, ending with a 14-27 overall record during the regular season.

Even coming off of a 22-21 double-overtime win over Phoenix Thunderbird in his last game with the Knights just weeks ago, the effort was not enough.

Brittain sent a letter to the team addressing Saint Mary’s decision:

“While I remain eager to lead these Knights into the future, Saint Mary’s has asked me to step down as the head football coach. Therefore, with a heavy heart but with all due obedience and trust in God’s plan, I accept that I will no longer be the head football coach of Saint Mary’s Catholic High School.”

Brittain made the playoffs once in 2016, losing to Higley High 44-0 in the first round. Since, the Knights haven’t had a winning season.

Despite the losing record, players still valued Brittain. PJ Lewis, a freshman on the JV football team, said his experience playing with Brittain, while short, was great.

“When I first met him, he seemed really nice and passionate about the football program,” Lewis said. “He was very excited and enthusiastic about all the new freshmen football players that were coming in.”

David Galindo, another freshman who played on JV who joined varsity a few times, had similar feelings.

“The coaches were amazing and really positive towards everyone on the team,” Galindo said. “I really felt like the JV team was like a family, and I give the coaches credit for that.”

The change in coaching came as a total shock, according to Patrick Sullivan, a senior who has been with Brittain since freshman year.

“I didn’t expect it to happen because the Saint Mary’s administration likes him, so when he got asked to step down it surprised me,” Sullivan said.

While there haven’t been any hints as to who the next head coach will be, there is some speculation that it might be an alumni coach.

“We have many alumni coaches who are very successful with their programs right now in the Valley who would love to be back at Saint Mary’s, so maybe it’s time to bring an alumni coach back,” said Galindo.

Sullivan has “no clue who the next coach will be,” but is confident the athletic director, Greg Fahrendorf, who declined to comment, knows what is best for Saint Mary’s football and “will get the right coach hired.”

As a freshman, Galindo is optimistic about the future of the program, and recognized that change might be the the answer to bring the Knights back.

“I just think sometimes sports need a change,” said Galindo. “Tradition is big at Saint Mary’s and I think maybe football needs that tradition back.”

It is unclear what Brittain’s plans are for the future, but what is clear is the support from the players.

“I wish him well on all his future coaching jobs,” said Galindo.