Southlake Carroll is searching for a new athletic director after Ronnie Tipps' resignation.

Tipps, 61, said he is retiring.

"After 39 years in the business, first as a coach and then as an athletic director, I thought it was time," he said Tuesday of last month's resignation.

File 2007

Ronnie Tipps (right) welcomed his new football coach Hal Wasson back to Southlake Carroll in 2007.

Tipps is moving to Oklahoma to be near his mother, who is in declining health.

In four of Tipps' five years as athletic director, including the 2007-08 school year, Southlake Carroll won SportsDay's Class 5A All-Sports championship.

Three of the nine state team titles won by Southlake Carroll under Tipps' watch came last school year.

"I'm proud of our kids and coaches," Tipps said. "We've been blessed. It has been a tremendous run."

Chauncey Willingham, 55, will serve as interim athletic director until a new one is hired, Carroll ISD spokeswoman Julie Thannum said in a written communication.

Before coming to Carroll in 2003, Tipps spent eight years as athletic director and head football coach at Sherman.