[Stardust]

For the fifth time in nine years, Paul Laurence Dunbar is looking for a new football coach.

Jason Howell has resigned after Dunbar went 3-19 in his two years on the job. The Bulldogs lost their last 6 games in his first season and finished 1-10. They lost their last 7 games this season and wound up 2-9.

Howell said he told Dunbar principal Anthony Orr two weeks ago that he was stepping down.

“It was one of those quiet step-away type of things, no hoopla surrounding it,” Howell said of his resignation.

“It’s for personal reasons, not just one thing. I feel like the program is on stable footing right now. Everything is good to go with it. It’s just time to let somebody else take it the next step.”

Howell wished Dunbar could have won more games, “but no matter how much you improve, sometimes you’re out-manned and out-experienced. Growth has occurred the last two years. We have some great kids who worked hard, and now they have some experience under their belt that will a big help to them next year.”

Howell said he is “absolutely not done with coaching.” For the time being he will remain at Dunbar, where he also serves as an assistant baseball coach under Larry Poynter.

There has been a revolving door on the Dunbar football office this decade. Mike Meighan started the Bulldogs’ program when the school opened in 1990, and he led it for 11 years. Since Meighan retired after the 2000 season, Dunbar has had four coaches — Mark Peach (2001-02), Fred Barnott (2003-04), David Hensley (2005-07) and Howell (2008-09).

Howell, a Pikeville native, was an assistant at Tates Creek before taking the Dunbar head coachingn position
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