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After two seasons, Chris Varney has resigned as the head baseball coach at George Rogers Clark High School.

The decision came late last week, with Varney simultaneously agreeing to take the head baseball coach position at Hazard High School in eastern Kentucky, which is his alma mater.

“I do appreciate, for the sake of our kids, the time that he gave to GRC,” said recently appointed GRC Athletic Director Terry Yeast. “From what I understand, he is going back home. I know what it’s like to go home to work, so I think that sounds like a great opportunity for him.”

Varney was previously an assistant coach at Hazard, as well as the head coach at June Buchanan. Powell County and Montgomery County High School.

Before coming to Winchester, he led the Pirates to a pair of 14th Region Championships and the Indians to a 10th Region Championship in 2019.

These victories add the number of region championship teams Varney has been a part of to five, as he was also a two-time 14th Region Champion as a player for the Bulldogs.

In his first season with the Cardinals, who finished the 2021 season with a 16-17 record and got knocked out of the postseason in the quarterfinals of the 40th District tournament following a loss to Bourbon County, he led the 2022 team to a 21-14 record.

Having started the year 2-7, the Cards surprised many with a strong finish that saw them get to the 10th Region Championship game before a loss to Campbell County.

During that 10th Region tournament, they overcame a five-run deficit against Mason County en route to a thrilling extra-inning victory and also convincingly defeated Nicholas County.

In 2023, the Cards finished the season with a 23-12 record and a team ERA of just 2.32 thanks to star pitchers such as Keyonte Back – who threw a no-hitter against Perry County Central on April 1.

However, in a pitcher’s duel, the Cards’ season ended following a 2-0 loss to Bourbon County during a 40th District Quarterfinal matchup.

Varney will replace John Meehan at Hazard High School and inherit a team who won the 54th District Championship before falling to Wolfe County in the 14th Region Tournament, which Breathitt County eventually won.

The process has begun to seek a hire for the head baseball coach position.

“We have posted the position [opening],” Yates said. “Hopefully, we will find the right combination as we are moving forward.”

Interested candidates can find a link to the job opening at: https://clarkctyky.tedk12.com/hire/Index.aspx.