Handley steps down as MSU-Northern golf coach

It's tough to argue with someone who wants to spend more time with his family.

Montana State University-Northern golf coach Chris Handley turned his letter of resignation on Wednesday to MSU-Northern athletics director Byron Ophus.

Handley cited conflicts with his full-time teaching job in Box Elder and a desire to spend more time with his family as a reason for his resignation.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the Skylights and Lights team for the past three years, but due to professional reasons from my full-time job and a desire to become more involved with children's activities as they grow older, I need move on from coaching golf," Handley said in the letter.

"It's certainly an understandable decision," Ophus said. "He was really looking forward to this year. It's as a big a disappointment to him as it is to us."

Ophus said the athletics department will look internally to fill the coaching position initially before possibly opening the job up to outside applicants.

In the letter, Handley, whose wife coaches the women's volleyball team, did express a desire to remain active within the athletics department. He even asked that some of the excess of the golf program's fund-raising budget go towards a fund for recarpeting the athletics office.

"I fully intend to maintain a very active role in MSU-Northern athletics in the future, helping in whatever matters necessary," Handley said.