LBWCC marketing and development director Rene´e LeMaire confirmed Tuesday that Tommy McDaniel has resigned as the Lady Saints’ head softball coach, and that athletic director and head baseball coach Steve Helms will take over the program.

“He’s going to give softball some attention,” LeMaire said.

LeMaire said the community college will employ a part time assistant baseball coach, and contract an assistant coach for the softball program.

Helms will take over the softball program, and said McDaniel left to pursue “other personal interests.”

Helms will also stay in an administrative role for both programs.

“We are currently in the process of looking for an assistant coach for both baseball and softball,” Helms said. “Then, we’re going to continue on.”

Helms said he will coach both teams, and will try to get two “quality assistants” to do a lot of the day-to-day activities.

“I’ll be coaching the coaches,” he said. “I’ll be handling the recruiting, the administrative part and the person we hire will handle the day-to-day coaching as well as myself.

“Both programs will grow from this,” he said. “We’re excited about where we’re going with this.”

Helms said he wanted to make sure everyone knows he’s not giving up baseball.

“I’m just going to be the administrator of both,” he said. “Who we hire is going to be the on-field coach.

“I’ll be there for the kids, and instructing the same as I’ve always done,” he said.

McDaniels leaves LBWCC after six years of coaching the Lady Saints. He has helped lead the softball team to four post season appearances.

McDaniel said he resigned to be able to spend more time with his daugher, Maggie, who is 2 years old.

“Right now, I’m going to get out of coaching for a few years,” McDaniel said. “I’m going to focus on staying as close as I can to my little girl, whether it’s in the exact area or not, I don’t want to get too far away from her.”

McDaniel said he had been thinking about leaving for the past year and a half.

“The time was right this year,” he said. “Some opportunities looked like they were going to come open. It was just a time where I thought it was the right thing to do.

“It became tough as far as not being able to spend the weekends I’m supposed to spend with her and the time I’m supposed to spend with her,” he said.