BUTLER TWP — Jim Rankin said his resignation as Butler High football coach had nothing to do with football.

The 62-year-old veteran does not anticipate coaching anywhere in 2011.

“I have no interest in being an assistant coach, and if I was going to be a head coach, it'd be with Butler,” he said.

Rankin recently submitted a letter of resignation after posting an 0-9 record in his only year with the Golden Tornado.

“Having my grandson with me and trying to coach up in Butler, tying up hours from 3 to 8 p.m. every day, it just got to be too much,” Rankin said. “It was a tougher task trying to balance coaching and family than I anticipated.

“Getting out of coaching now to take care of family ... it's probably one of the few mature decisions I've made in my life.”

Rankin said he feels badly that he was unable to see his initial plan through at Butler.

“The timetable I gave was four years. Obviously, that's not going to happen now,” he said.

Butler athletic director Bill Mylan said finalists from last year's coaching search likely will be considered strong candidates again.

“I'm sure those people will be contacted to see if they're still interested,” Mylan said. “Besides that, we'll post the position and go through the normal protocol.

“The frustrating thing is having to go through this process all over again. It further delays our goal of turning around this football program. But it can't be helped.”

Rankin's resignation will be accepted at Monday's school board meeting.

The fact Butler football will have its fourth coach in six years is disturbing to Mylan.

“Absolutely. We need to bring stability to this program,” he said. “Anytime a coach leaves after one year, there's concern. Starting all over again is tough.”

Despite not winning a game, Rankin doesn't regret his season at Butler.

“I don't regret anything about it,” he said. “The only thing I'm sorry for is not making the kids more competitive. That's not on them. That's on me as their coach.

“We had good boys who worked hard. Those seniors — Cole Baxter, Matt Pribis, Adam Steiner and others — they did everything we asked of them the whole time.”

He described the administration and Butler School Board as being “all in” in terms of doing what it takes to turn the program around.

Rankin had a combination of veteran and younger coaches on his staff. He will not recommend anyone for his vacated position, however.

“I don't do that,” he said. “That decision doesn't involve me. I was all in. But when I'm out, I'm out.

“Butler has great kids. I hope (the turnaround) happens for them. I'll be rooting for them.”