Marc Aparicio’s stint as Coupeville High School’s baseball coach was short and sweet.

Aparicio stepped down after Wednesday’s game with Klahowya, just 29 games into his career, because of new work responsibilities.

His resignation is one of three coaching changes announced by athletic director Willie Smith recently. The contracts for boys basketball coach Anthony Smith and girls soccer coach Troy Cowan were not renewed.

Aparicio, a 1988 Coupeville graduate, took over the baseball program last year and led the Wolves to their first league title in 25 years. After the season, he and his assistant coaches were named Staff of the Year by the Olympic League.

Aparicio finished with a 14-15 overall record.

Assistant coach Chris Smith will replace Aparicio as the Wolves’ head coach.

“It’s with great regret that I find myself in this position and forced to resign,” Aparicio said. “I’ve been offered a contract with the Department of the Navy that allows me, in the near term, to remain in Coupeville. However, it also requires me to travel to Monterey, California, and other Navy bases throughout the nation on a relatively regular basis.”

That travel, he said, will make it impossible to fulfill the time commitment required of a head coach.

Aparicio is also the owner of the Penn Cove Tap Room.

“I felt they needed a head coach that wasn’t distracted with a restaurant and other outside work. I told them that I certainly don’t want to be the anchor holding them back from their potential success.”

Coming off last year’s league title and returning seven starters, Aparicio said the Wolves have a chance to challenge for the state 1A championship this spring.

Aparicio said the requirements of his new contract came as a surprise.

“I typically only work these contracts outside of baseball season,” he said. “This one I couldn’t pass up.”

Aparicio hopes to help the team whenever possible.

“I intend to continue to support the team the best I can and where Chris feels he needs me,” Aparicio said. “I certainly will miss the coaching job; I truly enjoyed it. I really enjoyed working with the other coaches and with the players — and I loved managing the games.”

The recommendation to not renew Cowan’s contract was approved by the Coupeville Board of Directors this week. The board has not yet officially approved the recommendation not to renew Anthony Smith’s contract.

Coupeville High School has had a flood of coaching changes over the past seven years after a long period of stability. Longtime coaches Ron Bagby (football), Randy King (basketball), Willie Smith (baseball) and Toni Crebbin (volleyball) all retired from coaching within that time period.

Finding suitable replacements has been a challenge. For example, the football and volleyball programs have had four head coaches in the past seven seasons.

Athletic director Smith said he hopes to find coaches who are committed to the community and to building strong programs.