Bowling Green coach Pat King is heading to Oak Forest Academy, which is located in Amite, to become the athletic director.

King said his faith helped him make the leap to the new job.

“I feel like God is leading me where he wants me to go for the next stage of my life,” King said. “Me and my family are excited about it.”

King leaves Bowling Green after spending most of his life at the school as a student and a teacher.

King attended Bowling Green from pre-K through high school graduation. In 2001, he went back to Bowling Green to teach and coach.

King has had much success at his alma mater.

He’s been the Lady Buccaneers’ fastpitch softball coach for all 11 years of the program.

Under his tutelage, the team has captured five district titles and three seconds in league play.

The team has two South State Championships and three seconds along with a state runner up.

King has also spent much time on the hardwood. He’s been the head girls’ varsity basketball coach, head boys’ varsity coach or head coach of both teams since 2002.

Those teams have also won many games over that time period.

Under King, the girls have won four consecutive district titles while finishing runner up five times.

They’ve won four straight South State titles and had a pair of seconds.

The Lady Buccaneers won the state championship in the 2012-13 season while adding three more runner up finishes.

They’ve also been in the overall tournament five times under King’s guidance.

The boys’ team has captured four district titles and been runner up three times with King at the helm.

Bowling Green won two South State championships and was second three times.

The Buccaneers had one state runner up and were in the overall tournament five times.

King had nothing but praise for Bowling Green.

“The relationships I’ve built with the faculty are lifelong,” King said. “The faculty, the kids I coach and their parents, we’re truly family. As hard as it is to leave, I think God is just leading me somewhere else in my life, and I’m going to follow where he wants me to go. This school gave me my first opportunity. I’m always going to be in their debt. It’s my home, and I’m going to miss it.”

Principal Beverly Young said King has been invaluable to Bowling Green School, not only as a coach and teacher, but with his impeccable character.

“His dedication, care and concern for our students will always remain in the hearts of the BGS family,” Young said.