BELFAST — As the high school softball regular season comes to an end, one area coach is making plans for the future — plans that will see him depart from the coaching capacity for the first time in over two decades. 

Belfast Area High School varsity softball coach Chris Bartlett will be stepping down as the program’s head coach following the conclusion of the season. 

Bartlett will be leaving Belfast following 18 years as a Lion and will also leave his physical education teaching position at the conclusion of the academic year. He has been a physical education teacher for 19 years, coaching football for 23 seasons and softball for 15. 

In February 2018, he stepped down as the Belfast varsity head football coach, a role he had held since 2009. 

“These last 18 years have been absolutely amazing, I have had the pleasure of working with so many great administrators, educators, coaches, students and parents,” he said. “I can not thank the Belfast Community enough for their support over the years. I am definitely sad but at the same time excited to start a new chapter in my life.” 

With his daughter, Gia Davila, graduating this year, Bartlett and his wife will be moving to Florida, his wife’s home state, to be closer to family and to enjoy the warmer climate. 

“The winters have been really hard over the years, so we thought this was a good time to adventure out and try something new,” he said.

Bartlett is looking forward to teaching physical education at a charter school in Dunedin, 25 miles from Tampa, and earning his charter captain’s license. 

“Fishing and taking people fishing has always been a passion of mine and the southern waters of Florida and the Caribbean are a great opportunity to achieve this lifelong dream,” Bartlett stated. “It is going to be a big change, but hopefully a little more of a relaxing one.”

Though Bartlett is unsure when he will return to a coaching position, he is proud of his coaching accomplishments and looks forward to spending more time with his family, after dedicating so many years to coaching.

“[Coaching] has been a great experience and I hope I have had a positive effect on the students I have worked with over the years,” he said.

Reach George Harvey at: sports@penbaypilot.com.