INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) – The head girls basketball coach at the high school in Independence has carried through with his intention to quit. Rod Conrad and assistant coach Rob Ratchford had complained of threats and criticism from parents and others. The school board accepted Ratchford’s resignation on Monday.

Conrad had said in a statement released March 12 that he’d had second thoughts, citing community support that had surfaced.  Athletics director Rob Arnold said Thursday that Conrad finally concluded that after everything that had happened, Conrad didn’t think he could be as effective in the post.