Columbia football coach Chip Bilderback has resigned from the program after six seasons and accepted another coaching job in Louisiana to be closer to his wife.

Bilderback has accepted a head coaching job at St. Frederick High School in Monroe, La. His wife, Missy Bilderback, just finished her first year as women's basketball coach at Louisiana-Monroe. After being apart for a year after Missy coached her first season in her new role, Chip wanted to be closer to his family.

"I am excited to be back with my family my wife and son," Bilderback told the Clarion Ledger.

Bilderback, 44, leaves Columbia with a 69-12 record in six seasons and led the Wildcats to their first state title in 2021 with a 22-21 win over Senatobia, ending a 39-year drought.

"Columbia is a special place," Bilderback said. "Everyone thinks it’s the awesome facilities, but Columbia is special because of the people. From the board to the administration to the teachers and down to the students, they make up what I believe is the best school in Mississippi."

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Columbia finished 14-1 last season and lost its final game to Louisville 19-6 in the MHSAA Class 4A state championship.

Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X, formerly Twitter @MikeSChavez.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Columbia football coach Chip Bilderback leaves program after six seasons