Walker Mosby has enjoyed his time as a football coach, but he wants to enjoy being a father even more.

Mosby announced Thursday that he is stepping down after only one season as St. Aloysius’ football head coach. He said he isn’t leaving for another coaching position, but rather to be closer to his family and 1-year-old son in east Mississippi.

“You miss things,” Mosby said. “You miss their first steps. You miss the first time they’ll hit a ball. You miss the first time they speak. You miss the first time they learn a new word. You’re probably going to miss the first time they go to school. You’re going to miss all of that, and that is so important in life to not miss any of that. That’s just it. I just want to be a daddy.”

Mosby plans to finish out the school year before officially moving on at the end of July. He teaches biology and history in addition to coaching St. Al’s golf team, whose season is still going.

In a statement, St. Al principal Dawn Meeks thanked Mosby for his service and said a search for his successor will begin immediately.

“Coach Mosby came to our program at a very pivotal time. He was the difference we needed, when we needed it the most. Now, with our football program thriving, we are grateful for all he has contributed to St Aloysius,” Meeks said. “While we are saddened to see him go, we fully support his decision and wish him nothing but the best as he begins this next chapter in his life.”

Mosby’s coaching career began with stints as a student assistant at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Mississippi State from 2013-17. One-year runs coaching the defensive backs at Gulf Coast and North Carolina’s Louisburg College followed, and then he moved on to Pearl River Community College from 2019-23.

He was hired as St. Al’s head coach in January 2024 at the age of 29. He thanked the school’s administration for giving him the opportunity.

“The people are fantastic. I’m going to miss the kids. I appreciate (principal Dawn Meeks) and (athletics director Allison McSherry) and the school giving me this opportunity,” Mosby said. “I hate I couldn’t bring home a state championship, but they’re going to get there.”

Mosby led the Flashes to a 3-9 record in his only season. Although it wasn’t overly impressive on its face, it was a big improvement for a struggling program.

Among the 2024 season highlights were a 19-6 win over Clinton Christian that snapped a school-record 23-game losing streak, and a 33-27 playoff win against Winston Academy in five overtimes. The latter was St. Al’s first playoff victory since 2015. Mosby credited his assistant coaches and players for the success.

“I couldn’t be more proud of those kids. I didn’t do nothing. Coach Bumper (Brogdon), Coach (Buddy) Wooten) and Coach (Jared) Bell did it all. They were the main guys,” Mosby said. “And then the kids came together as a team. They rallied together. They grew up each day. They changed that program around. Those are the guys that did it. I’m proud of each and every one of them.”

Mosby added that he thinks he’s left St. Al’s football program in a good place. Nine seniors are graduating this year, but a number of starters were freshmen and sophomores who are expected to build on the breakthroughs of 2024.

“That school and that football team, they’re going to do great things. They don’t need me,” Mosby said. “Those children are going to do great things and they’re going to win football games because they’re just good kids that work hard, and play hard, and love each other, and that’s all that matters.”