Bob Ames will be back on the sidelines with the Meridian football team next season, according to Meridian athletic director Chad Larsen.

The longtime Trojans football coach has reached an agreement with the Meridian School District that will allow him to remain in the classroom as a substitute teacher and on the sidelines as coach next season. Ames could not be reached for comment.

Ames, who has been a coach at Meridian since 1974, had decided to step away from coaching in May after it was determined his teaching position would be eliminated next year due to budget cuts. Ames said at the time that he felt coaching was an extension of teaching and he wasn’t interested in doing one without the other.

“We think this is a win, win, win,” Larsen said in a phone interview. “It’s a win for the kids because they get Bob back. It’s a win for the school because we get our quality coach back. And it’s a win for Bob because he gets to be on campus and do something he loves.”

Also part of the agreement is that Ames’ son, Patrick Ames, will assume the role of head football coach at Meridian in the next few years. Patrick Ames is an English teacher at the high school and head coach of the track and field team.

“The details haven’t all been worked out, but Patrick is going to be the next head coach when the time comes,” Larsen said. “We want people to know that this isn’t a band-aid fix. We have long-term plans for success.”

Bob Ames has coached the Trojans to three state championships and ranks sixth among football coaches in Washington State history with 248 wins. Meridian has had 25 winning seasons under Ames. The Trojans advanced to the Class 1A state quarterfinals last season.