Scott Gural was happy at home with his infant son, but a chance to take the reins at Bowling Green High School was too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Gural was officially introduced as the new Bowling Green coach on Thursday, returning to the high school soccer scene after stepping down as Greenwood boys’ coach last March. 

He said he made the decision to come back after lengthy discussions with his family.

“After my son was born (last summer) the original plan was we were going to wait until he started school,” Gural said. “Once this opportunity opened up, I just didn’t think this would be an opportunity that would exist in four or five years. The time seemed right to step in and get back into it. It’s such an excellent soccer program here and I am really excited about being a part of it.”

He added he missed high school soccer and is eager to get back on the sidelines.

“I wouldn’t trade it though,” Gural said. “I absolutely enjoyed spending the time with my son, watching him grow and develop. I would have liked to have spent more time with him, but I’m also excited to be involved with a whole group of guys as we go through the high school season.”

Gural replaces Craig Widener, who stepped down in December after 11 seasons. Under Widener, the Purples evolved into one of the most successful programs in the state. Bowling Green went 206-32-20 under Widener, the best winning percentage among Kentucky high school coaches with at least 100 wins. In that time the Purples won nine district titles, seven region titles and state titles in 2006 and 2014. The Purples also advanced to at least the state semifinals six times.

Gural said he hopes to continue the winning tradition.

“There is just a great deal of respect,” Gural said. “I love that biblical quote “Iron sharpens iron.’ I think it took two strong programs, two competitive teams, two really competitive coaches to really push the other team to be the best. I hope we brought that out in each other the last few years and I look to continuing that.”

Gural brings plenty of success from his stint at Greenwood. In nine seasons under Gural, the Gators went 115-70-20, with two region runner-ups, four straight region titles from 2008-11 and a state runner-up finish in 2009.

“I think it is going to take a little while to get used to it, but thankfully some of the transition has already been made just because I’ve coached some of these guys through SKY soccer,” Gural said. “Even the team two years ago that won the state title, I was really pleased that so many guys played for me back in SKY. Granted I was disappointed that our school lost that year, but I was excited for these guys to go on to the state title.

“I (also) think it is going to help that we played a similar schedule and so I have seen a lot of the other teams we will be playing this season. I’ve seen (Bowling Green) from the opposite sideline as well and so I think that is going to facilitate some of the transition.”

— Follow prep sports reporter Micheal Compton on Twitter at twitter.com/mcompton428 or visit bgdailynews.com.