After guiding Maryknoll to consecutive third-place finishes in the Division II girls basketball state championships, Steve Caley is hanging up his sneakers.

Caley, 41, resigned on Monday.

"I’m looking forward to spending more time with my wife and my daughter," he said, noting that toddler Brooklyn is almost 3.

The Spartans struggled in D-I before moving down to D-II as Caley arrived.

Last year, Maryknoll went 21-7 overall and 13-0 in ILH D-II. Caley asked many of his players, training year-round and often practicing at 6 a.m., to squeeze in more practice time at a busy on-campus gym.

"That team I had, that was the greatest coaching experience of my life," Caley said of the two seasons. "They had great work ethic."

The returning Spartans are ready for a move to D-I next season.

"The cupboard is full. A lot of our talent were sophomores and juniors," Caley said. "The best is still ahead. I wish I could’ve seen it through, but I’ve been thinking about this for months."

He spent his usual two weeks after the season completely away from basketball, giving his family full attention. That’s when he knew it might be time for a change.

"My heart isn’t all the way into basketball," he said.