Garrett Krieg put together a terrific first season as head coach of the Southwestern High School girls basketball program.

The Spartans finished 18-8 and lost to Greenwood Christian, 49-42, in the regional championship game.

Krieg (photo) will not follow up on that success, though. He has been hired as South Adams High School’s new boys basketball coach after the departure of Josh Hendrixson for Madison-Grant.

“He really thought it through and it was best for him,” said Southwestern athletic director Brady Days. “He left on good terms.”

South Adams finished 15-9 last season and returns a pair of seniors that averaged a combined 30 points per game as juniors.

South Adams is a Class 2A program in northeastern Indiana.

Krieg’s departure leaves Southwestern in a bind. The first official practice of the 2021-2022 girls basketball season is Monday.

Brett Andrews, a former head coach at Indianapolis Lutheran, served as Southwestern’s junior varsity coach last season and is still with the program.

Days, Southwestern’s athletic director and boys basketball coach, also can help run practices if needed.

“If I have to step in, I will but I am not coaching a game,” said Days while laughing. “We have to get the practices in to be eligible for the first game. We will make it work.”

Southwestern is scheduled to open the girls basketball season Nov. 2 at Tri.