Orange Beach High School is moving in a different direction with its girls basketball program following the departure of head coach Mike Chase.

Chase announced in a video posted to TikTok that the school informed him of the change following the recent end to the 2025-26 season. The video has amassed more than 55,000 views on the platform.

“You will not hear me saying go Makos at the end of my videos anymore,” Chase opened with in his video. “That’s because Orange Beach High School has decided they want to go in a different direction with their basketball program.”

The decision comes after a successful season for the Lady Makos, who won the Class 4A Area 1 title and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the AHSAA state playoffs.

In announcing his departure, Chase described the school’s approach to basketball as having a “rec” mentality and indicated he did not believe accomplishments such as area titles and postseason success were fully appreciated.

“Winning area championships, two area championships, did not lose a sub-regional game, two Sweet Sixteens, one Elite Eight in three years — it means nothing to that community,” Chase said on the decision to part ways.

Orange Beach athletic director Shane Alexander declined to comment on specifics surrounding the decision, citing personnel policy as the school begins the search for a new girls basketball coach. 

“As a matter of system procedure, I am not able to comment on or discuss personnel matters,” athletic director Shane Alexander said. “We are committed to respecting our employees' privacy and to handling employment decisions in accordance with established processes.”

Chase also said in the video that he is not particularly upset about the decision to part ways, but rather the decision of relocating his wife to the Gulf Coast away from her family and leaving his son at Spain Park High School, where he was a senior at the time three years ago.

Chase recently surpassed the 600-win mark for his head coaching career in 2025. He posted a 45-55 record at Orange Beach during his tenure. Before his time with the Makos, Chase spent 14 seasons with Spain Park, 10 seasons with Clay-Chalkville and one season with Mountain Brook — finishing his 28th year of coaching girls basketball in Alabama this winter.