Brad Ducote’s time away from the sidelines was short-lived.

First-year head coach Troy Gardner stepped down Thursday and Ducote was called back to be the interim head coach for the rest of the season according to Rosepine High School Principal Joey Bartz.

Gardner stepped down due to personal reasons according to Bartz. Gardner spent four seasons as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator before being promoted to head coach during the summer after Ducote retired from coaching.

Bartz said the coaching situation will be reevaluated after the season.

Under Ducote, the Eagles reached the quarterfinals for the first time in program history in 2021, earning him American Press Coach of the Year honors, and again last fall. Ducote is 43-15 in five seasons as head coach, winning more than 10 games three times.

Rosepine will open the 2023 season on Sept. 1 at East Beauregard.