After three state boys' basketball championships, a combined 16 conference titles and Eastern Regionals appearances and countless lives touched, Wells Gulledge has decided to move on.

The iconic Kinston High School coach, physical education instructor and athletic director announced Tuesday he will resign all posts, effective at the end of the school year, to venture into the non-education sector working for a software company based in Greenville.

The father of two and husband to Kinston High English teacher Dawnn Gulledge cited the desire to spend more time with his family for the sudden change in careers.

It was a long, drawn out process. Ive chosen to go into the corporate world, which will give me more flexibility and more time at home to where I will actually see my wife and kids, Gulledge said. Being a dad has become the most important component of my life. By making this change its going to allow me to do so.

I think the dinner table is a special place when youre raising a family.

The 39-year-old Rockingham native arrived in Kinston in 2001 following a three-year stint at Jacksonville High. During his time coaching the Vikings, Gulledge has become one of the pre-eminent high school basketball coaches in the state.

He won 274 games while losing just 55 in 11 seasons at Kinston, and has 320 career victories overall, including a 46-33 mark while at Jacksonville.

Eight of his teams won conference titles, eight reached the regionals, four won Eastern Regional titles and three 2008, 2010 and, most recently, 2012 won a state North Carolina High School Athletic Association boys basketball championship.

Gulledges three state titles account for nearly half of the schools total of eight, which includes five won by Grainger High in the 1950s and 60s.

First of all, Id just like to thank everyone in the community that has supported us in Kinston. I wish I had time to write individual letters to everyone, Gulledge said. (Kinston is) home to me. Its a very special place to me. My 11 years were very great years.

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Gulledge to leave coaching