PLEASANTON -- Pleasanton head football and girls' track coach Chris Brindle confirmed Monday that he will be leaving the Blu-Jays for a teaching and coaching position in the Piper school district in Kansas City, Kan.

Brindle's Blu-Jays recently completed an 8-3 season in which they made the playoffs as an 11-man team for the first time since 1979. They defeated Howard-West Elk on the road in the Bi-District round before falling to Olpe at home in Regionals. Olpe went on to the Class 2-1A State Championship game at Hays, where the Eagles lost to Smith Center Saturday.

Brindle, who was 51-43 as Pleasanton's football coach, said he took the Piper job so that he could use a Master's Degree in Education Technology he earned from MidAmerica Nazarene University.

"My main job will be Technology Instruction Facilitator," Brindle said in an e-mail that he sent out to media outlets Monday afternoon. "I will be assisting teachers in using technology in instruction (and) also be overseeing the implementation of their new IDL lab. (Piper is) also installing a Synergistic Technology Explorations Lab and I will be involved in instruction with those classes..

"The are completely remodeling the high school so my room and equipment will all be new. They are also adding a new elementary school in the district to deal with the enormous growth in that area north of The Legends."

Brindle said he will also be an assistant football and track coach at Piper. He may also have additional coaching duties which have not yet been specified.

"I will miss the students and athletes I am leaving behind, and I have enjoyed great support during my years here in Pleasanton," Brindle said. "But it is time for me to have an influence on a new group of students. I wish I could take the kids with me."

Brindle, who came over from Greeley County High School in Tribune before the start of the 1998 season, feels that whoever takes over the Blu-Jays next year will have success.

"I think Pleasanton will have a successful season in football again next year," Brindle said. "It is very rare to have four returning offensive linemen. The depth may not be the same, but that was unique for us even this year. There are several other players that have started as well, including several that earned all league honors, so PHS has the potential to have another nice season next fall."