BROOKINGS — Brookings High School head football coach Brady Clark has resigned his coaching position.

The resignation was listed in the school district’s February personnel report, which the school board unanimously approved — as part of the consent agenda and without discussion — at Monday night’s meeting.

Clark did not resign his position as a fifth-grade teacher. The coaching resignation is effective at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

In a news release provided to The Register, Clark thanked the community, but made no mention of his reasons for resigning.

The Bobcat football team ended last season with an 8-3 record.

Superintendent Summer Schultz provided The Register with a written statement.

“We sincerely appreciate the time, energy and dedication Coach Clark has invested in our student-athletes and the Bobcat football program,” Schultz said. “From the beginning, Coach Clark intentionally fostered a football family built on teamwork and a shared commitment to excellence. His leadership extended beyond the field, as he consistently emphasized the impact his players could have in their school and community. His passion for the program was evident in the way he embodied the ‘Raise the Flag’ mentality, inspiring student-athletes to strive for success both on and off the field.”

Clark’s statement read, in part:

“After thoughtful reflection, prayer and seeking counsel from friends, family and coaching mentors, I have made the decision to step down as the head coach of Brookings Bobcat Football,” Clark said. “It has been an honor and privilege to coach this program and the young men we were charged with. I am extremely proud of the accomplishments and growth — both on and off the gridiron — our program has achieved from youth football to the varsity level. The gratitude I have for Bobcat Football and the people associated with this program is immeasurable — most importantly, the players and coaches I have had the privilege of becoming family with. You are what I take great pride in and hold in high regard.”

He said he leaves the football program “in a great place” and is excited to focus his energies on continuing to teach at Camelot Intermediate School.

“I have all the confidence in the world that success will continue on and off the field for years to come,” Clark said. “It truly takes a village to achieve success. The Brookings community, school district, administration, football staff, families, players and supporters of Bobcat football are second to none. From the bottom of my heart — thank you for the love you have given me since coming here half a decade ago.”

Clark was named head football coach for Brookings in March 2020 — replacing Lee Schmidt, who was head coach for seven seasons after taking over for Gary Maffett. Prior to that, Clark was head football coach for Oldham-Ramona/Rutland from 2017-20. In college, he played for Black Hills State University and was named All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference defensive end in 2011. According to the South Dakota Football Coaches Association website, Clark has an overall coaching record of 26-21.

In other business, Schultz also updated the board regarding ongoing negotiations to sell the Fifth Street Gym. On Nov. 12 the board entered into a contract with Ryan Krogman of Century 21 Krogman & Company to sell the facility.

“We are in negotiations on a proposal with an entity, and due to state law I can’t share who that is or the specifics around it,” Schultz said. “Things are on track. Things are being worked on. The powers — those individuals working on our behalf and that entity’s behalf to get the legal language in place — I think they’re getting fairly close. So once we have that, then all that information comes out. But it is not our story to tell as far as who is interested and what they are offering.”

She said there will be no changes to existing recreational programming in the gym for the foreseeable future.

“I asked our attorney today if he could give me an estimate (on a closing date), and he just couldn’t,” Schultz said. “Some of the agreements and contract language with the Fifth Street Gym, and easements, and parking and all of the things related to the sale of the middle school way back — it’s just taking a while to dig into the legal components of it. That’s the piece that’s taking long, not the negotiations between the two individuals. It’s the legal components that make sure everything in the agreement would be legal for the next person moving forward.”

The district originally planned to look at offers for the gym on Jan. 13. During that meeting, the board voted unanimously to extend the sale through April 1.

Contact Jay Roe at jroe@brookingsregister.com.