Health issues have forced Mike Brown to resign as football coach at Highline after three seasons.

"I wouldn't walk away from these kids if I had a choice," he said.

Brown, 64, made significant strides with a program that was on an 0-20 streak before he took over. The Pirates were winless again his first season, giving them a 29-game losing streak, longest in the state. But they opened with a 32-6 victory over Vashon in 2006 and finished 4-6. Highline was 3-7 this year.

"We went from 0-29 to 7-11 in the regular season [not including postseason games] the past two years," Brown said. "I really feel we're about halfway there."

Jerry Bamburg, Highline athletic director, praised Brown.

"When he took over, the program was pretty sad," Bamburg said. "He has worked incredibly hard the past three years to turn this program around. We are sincerely appreciative of all of his efforts. At least we are a respectable program now, which is largely due to his efforts. ... He left it in much better shape than he found it."

Brown, who has been coaching at various highs schools for all but eight years since 1965, increased students' interest in the football program dramatically. Only 23 players were on the team the season before Brown arrived. The next spring, more than 80 turned out.

The biggest obstacle was keeping players academically eligible, Brown said. The Highline School District requires student-athletes to maintain a 2.0 grade-point average to be eligible for athletics.

"We can get kids out on the field, but we can't keep them on the field," Brown said. "I've never been around a losing program, and I've never worked so hard."

Brown said if he is healthy enough, he would like to continue to work in the program, possibly as an assistant if the new head coach was interested.

Bamburg said the position will be opened soon.

"We will actively look for candidates who can take this program to the next level," he said.