Luiz Marcelo Machado stepped down as head coach of the Yakima Reds on Monday, but he still is coming to grips with the decision.

Citing interest to spend more time with his wife and the couple's four-month-old daughter while taking a more-involved job with Young Life, a non-denominational Christian organization, Machado left the Reds after six years coaching the team. But he is quite aware that without the Reds he would not have many of the things he treasures in his life.

After a 9-year professional career in Brazil, Machado came to the Reds in 1997 as a player. He was the team's captain that year and led the squad in scoring the following season before playing two more seasons and becoming the teams coach in 2001. The Reds finished 7-7-2 last season, just missing a chance at the postseason with a third-place finish in the PDL Northwest Division.

"Through the Reds I have everything I have today," Machado said. "The organization did everything for me and I mean everything. From bringing me to the U.S., to getting my papers, to legalizing my green card, they did everything. It's very hard. I had a hard time leaving my office."

Machado still will coach soccer in Yakima when he leads the Yakima Valley Community College women's soccer team during its first season this fall. He said the time constraints will be far less for that job than they were for the Reds, which required a lot of travel during the season and time recruiting in the offseason.

He has fond memories of developing local talent, especially Eisenhower graduate Santa Maria Rivera, who is now with the Seattle Sounders. He also plans to continue helping the Reds in their coaching search and do anything he can to help the new coach settle into his or her job.

"I have some names that I suggested and not only that," Machado said. "Any coach who comes here I will give him all the contacts that I have with all the players from different parts of the U.S. I want to see the Reds continue to be successful."

Machado has been a volunteer with Young Life for two years before taking a part-time job with the organization last year. During that time he has served as the youth leader at Davis High School, and the rapid growth of the ministry has pushed him to become more involved. He also married his wife, Rachel Elizabeth Machado, about two years ago and they have a daughter, Alissa Elizabeth Machado.

Yakima plans to hire a new coach before the end of the year. Any licensed coach interested in applying should submit a resume with a copy of their license to the Red's office at P.O. Box 9187, Yakima, WA, 98908.