Jim Dose, the head coach of the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) cross country team, has announced his resignation.
Dose has coached the team for the past eight years.
"It's just time," Dose said. "It kind of wore me out and I was just ready to be done."
Dose said he has been involved in playing or coaching athletics for the better part of 50 years, dating back to his high school playing days and during his college career when he began coaching junior high athletics.
He coached at West Marshall High School, Hampton-Dumont High School and Boone High School before joining the DMACC staff as a professor in the Academic Achievement Center.
Dose said his coaching duties included boys basketball, football and track.
"I've been involved with a fall sport for almost 50 years and it's time to not be involved," Dose said.
Dose said he will miss his relationships with the athletes he has coached over the years.
"They're all fine kids, they work hard, they're good to be around and they helped keep me young," Dose said. "Cross country is kind of a cool sport and the thing I'm going to miss is when the kids achieve a goal with a time or performance. It's really quite emotional and it's really rewarding."
Dose said he will not miss the driving to and from cross country events and the down time during meets.
Dose led the DMACC cross country team to regional and national competition during his eight years as head coach. The Bears finished as high as second in regional competition and 14th in national meets.
"I'll miss the girls and the athletes in general," Dose said. "Once they reach a goal that they've set, it's pretty emotional and it's pretty exciting. I've coached some really good athletes over the years."
DMACC athletic director B.J. McGinn said a search is underway for a new cross country coach.