Two Pensacola area football coaches leaving

For the first time in a decade, new football coaches will be pacing the sidelines at Milton High and Washington High.

Mike McMillion formally resigned Wednesday as Milton's head football coach after 10 seasons at the helm. His exit followed Washington's Chet Bergalowski, who retired after 16 seasons with the Wildcats, including the past three years in a dual role as athletic director.

"It's tough for us, It's tough for everyone involved," Milton High principal Mike Thorpe said.

"We talked over a two-day period, and (McMillion) came to that decision (Tuesday). He has decided to resign. It wasn't easy for anyone, and we support him 1,000 percent in his future endeavors."

Phone messages left for McMillion were not returned.

According to Thorpe, McMillion will pursue an administrative role in the school district.

McMillion, who first took an assistant coaching job at Milton in 1992, posted a 98-61 record in his 10 seasons as head coach.

For a proud program with high expectations, the last two seasons have been turbulent. The Panthers went 3-7 in 2008 then, after a 5-0 start to this season, ended on a five-game losing streak to finish 5-5 and out of the playoffs.

Thorpe said that this was "100 percent" McMillion's decision and ruled out any push for the school to fire McMillion.

"Anytime the team doesn't perform, there's a lot of discussion that goes on between administration and the coaching staff," Thorpe said. "Ultimately, it was (McMillion's) decision. Was there a lot of discussion beforehand? Absolutely. But Mac felt like this was the best thing to do. Anytime you have a dip, and we've had one, you examine every facet of your whole program."

The Panthers made the playoffs six times under McMillion's watch but haven't made it past the first round since 2002. Milton also has lost to archrival Pace six straight times dating back to 2004.

Thorpe said that Milton will open up the application process on Jan. 4 and will accept resumes for "as long as it takes."

"A football coach at Milton is normally one that stays here a long time," Thorpe said. "We're going to take as much time as necessary."

horpe, who will have the final say on the next hire, hopes to have a coach in place in late January or early February. The person who replaces McMillion will only be the fifth Milton coach in 40 years.

McMillion's resignation comes only a week after Washington coach Bergalowski announced his retirement.

Bergalowski said he and his wife will eventually move to Laurel, Miss., so they can be with their daughter, who is recovering after being seriously injured in an auto accident earlier this year. She lost both legs in the accident. Her infant daughter was not injured.

The family will now be together in the same community.

"It's almost like divine intervention,'' said Bergalowski, who had been contemplating retirement prior to his daughter's accident.

"This is the best thing for me and the school. I'm just happy it's working out for everybody.''

Bergalowski quickly made an impact at Washington. In 1994, his first season, the Wildcats surprised by first making the playoffs, then surging all the way into winning the Class 6A title with a 16-7 victory against Miami Southridge. That Wildcats' team is the only one to win a 6A title in Pensacola prep history.

"The biggest thing for me (as memories) is all the relationships I built with the players and faculty here at Washington,'' Bergalowski said. "They've all been very professional and it's been so wonderful. They've been so good to me and my family.''

Washington will move forward by filling both positions. The school is expected to announce a new athletic director on Friday. A new football coach will be announced soon. Former Catholic High and Woodham High head coach Michael Smith is one of the frontrunners for the Washington position.

He helped Catholic to its first and only berth in the state championship game in 2004.