By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Osceola High boys basketball coach Steve Mason said Friday that he will not return in that capacity next season.

Mason, who led the Kowboys to the regional playoffs the past two seasons, said he wants to spend more time with his young children.

Mason, a long-time OHS assistant, took the head coaching job in 2009 after Larry Brown left. He was 45-11 in two seasons. The Kowboys were unbeaten in 5A District 5 during the 2009-10 season and won the district championship.

Osceola was the district runner-up to eventual state finalist Lake Wales last season and won a regional playoff game at Lakeland Kathleen, the first playoff win for OHS since 1997.

Mason will remain at OHS, where he is a guidance counselor.

Mason is the third local high school coach to resign this year after Poinciana's Jay Lunce and Liberty's Anthony Crespo.