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For Ryan Chaffin, the ride was as short as it was fun.
Days after Donegal's best girls' soccer season in school history ended, Chaffin — the Indians' second-year coach — announced his resignation last week, citing time constraints.
A western Pennsylvania native and 28-year-old Millersville University graduate, Chaffin said he'll begin taking a full schedule of graduate school courses at Wilkes University this week. To keep coaching on top of that, he said, might be stretching himself a little too thin.
"There are some other things (that factored into the decision), but for the most part I don't think I'll have the time to do it (coaching)," said Chaffin, who teaches math at Donegal.
"I don't think it's going to be feasible for me to have the time to (coach) and do it right."
After going a combined 9-35-3 overall and 3-32-1 in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Three from 2004-2006, things began to improve for Donegal in 2007, when the Indians went 4-11 (4-10 in Section Three) in Chaffin's first year.
The small step forward was a prelude to this spring, when Donegal — aided by a handful of talented incoming freshmen — put together the best season in the history of its program.
After posting a 12-1-1 record to finish second to Lancaster Mennonite in Section Three, the Indians qualified for the L-L League playoffs for the first time — taking perennial Section One power Hempfield to two overtimes before dropping a 3-2 decision in the first round.
From there, Donegal made inaugural appearances in both the District Three and PIAA Class AA playoffs.After losing to Eastern York 3-1 in the district quarterfinals, the Indians' season ended last Friday with a 2-1 PIAA quarterfinal loss to Fleetwood.
Donegal finished the year with a 15-5-1 record, which crushed the program's mark for most wins in a season.
Chaffin was named Coach of the Year in voting by his peers and Lancaster Newspapers sports writers.
"It was a great time," Chaffin said. "I enjoyed myself and I wish I could keep going. But my education is a little more important than trying to squeeze it all in."
E-mail: jfulginiti@lnpnews.com
