AKRON - Scott Bibler resigned as Tippecanoe Valley's head football coach today, citing his family as the reason.

Bibler, a 1982 Valley grad and a 1986 graduate of Taylor University where he played baseball for two years and football for four, was 98-68 in 16 years as the Vikings' head coach. He led Valley to a sectional championship in 1992.

"It was a tough decision," said Bibler. "But I had to put my family first and they're getting older and involved in more things that I want to be around for.

Bibler and his wife Stephanie, have two daughters, Chelsea and Megan, who are involved in numerous extracurricular activates.

"Maybe in the future I can come back and get involved in coaching again but you can't go back and be a dad again," said Bibler.

Valley athletic director Duane Burkhart said the school will begin looking for a new coach immediately and that they have some internal candidates. Burkhart did say that at this time there are no teaching positions open which will limit the search a bit.

As for Bibler, Burkhart said he will be missed on the sidelines at Valley.

"Scott's been very successful here. He has the longest tenure at Valley. One thing about Scott Bibler is he's always been able to get kids out when other programs have struggled. He's a gentleman of the game and we're going to miss him," said Burkhart.

Bibler became head coach at Valley at the age of 25. He was a sophomore on Valley's 1979 state championship team and credited his father and coaches on the staff while he was in school as his reason for getting into coaching.

"I can't express in words the enjoyment and the satisfaction being the head football coach at Tippecanoe Valley. It's been a dream for me. It all meant a lot to me," said Bibler. [[In-content Ad]]