Dickie Schock has resigned from his position as head football coach at Rocky Mount High School, despite quickly dispelling rumors about his job security in late December.

Schock submitted his resignation Wednesday to principal Leondis Farrow, citing personal and family matters, Farrow said.

“He just kind of said to me that this was the best thing to do at this time for him and his family,” said Farrow, who said in December that he planned to have Schock return.

Schock did not  return phone calls Sunday afternoon.

Following the Gryphons’ season-ending loss to Northern Nash in October, Schock said that he planned to return for the 2012 season. In late December, he again said he planned to return to the team.

Schock will continue to work as a weightlifting instructor and physical education teacher at Rocky Mount High. He will continue to supervise the after-school athletics workout programs.

Farrow said Schock’s resignation was somewhat of a surprise, but he had an idea it might be coming. Schock had contacted Farrow several times in the past month, which led Farrow to believe that Schock might be considering resigning.

“If a coach comes to you, and he wants to talk to you about something, it’s usually something around the program,” Farrow said. “To say it was a surprise, it wasn’t really a surprise. … We are where we are now.”

Schock spent three years as the head coach at Rocky Mount after working under former coach B.W. Holt for one season.

Schock led the Gryphons to a 7-5 record his first year and lost in the second round of the playoffs. The past two seasons, Rocky Mount has posted a combined 6-14-1 record, which included a six-game losing streak to end the 2011 season. The Gryphons went winless in the Big East Conference.

Before 2010 – Schock’s second season as head coach – Rocky Mount had made the playoffs each of the previous 10 years.

Athletics Director Mike Gainey said less than three weeks ago that Schock was still the expected football coach for next year. On Sunday, he said he had spoken to Schock since the end of football season but hadn’t discussed Schock’s job status.

“We thank him for his service to the school,” Gainey said.

A job opening has been posted on the Nash-Rocky Mount schools website, and Farrow said he believes the school will receive plenty of qualified applicants.

“Rocky Mount is known for its football,” Farrow said. “The community loves it and supports it. There’s a long-standing history of success here. It’s going to be very appealing to a lot of people.”

Rocky Mount High School’s new $34 million dollar campus is set to open in August.