ELKHART – Another high school boys basketball coach in Elkhart County has decided it’s time to step aside.

Elkhart Central coach Terry Smith resigned earlier this week after just two seasons in charge of the Blue Blazers.

Smith joins Steve Austin (Concord), Ronnie Thomas (Northridge) and Ryan Culp (Elkhart Christian Academy) as coaches in the county who have stepped down since the end of the 2017-18 season.

Smith cited a desire to explore other opportunities in a warmer climate as one of the main factors in his decision. Smith came to Central in the summer of 2016 after coaching both high school and AAU basketball teams in Florida.

Smith, who is 56, has also had a couple of health-related issues since taking over at Central. His daughter Samantha was also a student at Notre Dame when he arrived here, but she has since graduated.

Smith was 30-16 in his two seasons at Central. The Blue Blazers went 20-3 overall and 10-2 in the NIC his first year in 2016-17, losing to Warsaw in the championship game of the Class 4-A Elkhart Sectional. His team this past season finished 10-13 overall and 5-7 in the NIC.

Smith had previously coaches at Lake Superior State, Grand Valley State and Alma College and was also an assistant coach for one season with the Michigan State women’s program.

Central’s last three coach, including Randy DeShone and Troy Noble prior to Smith, each were there for only two seasons apiece.

Concord hired Derrick DeShone as its new coach earlier this week and Elkhart Christian Academy named Chad Hubbard as its coach back  in March.  The Northridge coaching position has yet to be filled.