The coaching carousel at Scotland High School continues during the off-season, as Michael Dease has decided to resign after just one season as the Fighting Scots varsity basketball coach.

Dease went 10-15 in his first and only season coaching the Fighting Scots.

“I thank the faculty, administration and especially the students for giving me a shot at being a head coach, which has always been a goal of mine,” Dease said. “An opportunity came about that I knew I couldn’t pass up, and ultimately my family and I decided that this was the best decision. But it was an extremely difficult decision to make.”

Citing his dream of one day becoming a school principal, Dease will continue his coaching career at Lower Richland High School in Columbia, SC as an assistant coach for the varsity basketball team. Also, Dease will serve as a Physical Education teacher at Hopkins Elementary School.

Effectively immediately, Scotland assistant coach Jackie Amos will take over as the Fighting Scots’ interim head coach. Amos’ Scotland career has spanned more than 15 years, and he will now assume head coaching duties until a permanent replacement is named.

“There’s a new and exciting direction that Scotland sports are taking, and I think basketball is set to become another big time sport in the county,” Dease said. “I am sad to leave right as a bunch of young prospects are making their way to Scotland, but in order to achieve my career goals I feel I made the right decision.”