SCOTTSBORO – Three state championships in 12 months, several top-five state finishes and numerous county and section titles over five years will be a mark hard to beat. But as many competitors know, Chris Schmidt was always tough to pass and many would say even harder to surpass.

Successful at Spanish Fort High and also at Daphne earlier, Schmidt and his wife Julie have decided to move to Scottsboro in north Alabama where both will teach and he will coach the Wildcats' high school track-and-field team. Both will teach at different elementary schools. He will be the assistant CC coach.

"It's in the best interest of my family," Schmidt said from Scottsboro. "My wife has not been able to get a job down there locally the last three years and we have to do what's best for us and the kids."

Schmidt built and ran the SFHS cross-country and track-and-field programs from the ground up in 2A and into a state-wide force by the time his first freshman athletes got their learners permits.

From May 2009 to May 2010, he led the Toros to their first state crown in Class 5A boys outdoor track and field and then to their Class 5A boys state cross-country title last November. Last month the Toros repeated the 5A track-and-field championship as a co-state champion with St. Paul's Saints for 2010.

"It was a very tough, difficult decision," Schmidt. "It was tough, especially to leave a program I built and so many kids I've known for several years. I wish we could adopt all the guys and girls and bring them up here. But I had to do the best for my family. It was a difficult decision, but we just put it in God's hands.The key was finding a place where both of us could teach. This is an established program with a lot of history. Very cross country and track oriented. I'll also be working with one of the legends in the sport. Coach (John) Esslinger has been doing this for 30-something years. He ranks up there with the highest caliber coaches. He gave up the track job but will still be the cross country coach. I'll assist him with that and I'll be the track coach. I'm looking forward to picking his brain and learning from him. He has 42 state titles."

Spanish Fort athletic director Bryant Vincent said what Schmidt accomplished at SFHS was amazing.

Schmidt, who is helping in the search for a permanent replacement said Shelby Stevens will act as interim coach.

"She knows the kids and the program,"Schmidt said. "Shelby will be a great transistion person. The main thing is to find someone with the passion. There is a lot of talent there (at SFHS) and the right person will see the success continuing for many years to come."