LaFAYETTE — After spending five years back in coaching, Chambers Academy head softball and girls basketball coach Brandi Fuller has decided to step down in her roles with the athletic program. Fuller will still teach science at the school.

“I needed a break. I needed more time,” Fuller said. “I’m going to be involved more with my own kids, and I know with me coaching took a lot of that [time] away from them. I coached my daughter, but now I’m going to get to just watch her.”

Fuller’s daughter, Lindsey, will be a sophomore next year and her son, Colton, is heading to the fifth grade. The former coach said that she was pondering this decision since softball season this past spring.

“I was missing out on a lot of stuff that my son was doing, taking time away from him and my family,” she said. “That was probably the biggest thing there.”

Fuller began coaching her alma mater of Chambers Academy while she was still a student in college. Fuller coached the Rebels’ current pitching coach Brittney Williams when she was in high school.

Her favorite coaching moment in her latest stint was in 2017 when the JV basketball team had to win three consecutive games to play in the championship.

“That was pretty exciting because we really realize that we’d make it that far,” Fuller said in a light tone. “We ended up being state runner ups three years in a row. We never could get the big one, but that was a good memory.”

Fuller also won three area softball championships from 2016 through 2018. The softball team advanced to the state tournament for the last three seasons. Her varsity basketball teams have also won multiple area championships in her time as the head coach.

Although at this time Fuller needed to step away from coaching, she said that she won’t close the door on her career in sports forever. She said that she’s optimistic about dedicating more time to teaching now.

“I also love being in the classroom,” Fuller said. “Sometimes coaching takes me away from that. I think that it will be better all around.”

Moving forward in regards to Rebels’ athletics, Fuller said that she’s excited to see what the next coach can bring to the school.

“I wish nothing but the best for my girls,” she said. “I just want to see them succeed in whatever they do.”