After a career that included five state championships, Cary Finberg is stepping down as head boys basketball coach at Columbia Falls High School.

Finberg, 49, submitted his letter of resignation this week, although he will continue to coach the girls basketball team.

“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Finberg said. “For me, it wouldn’t have been fair to continue coaching when I’m not able to do it at the level I was before.”

Finberg has been head boys coach for 19 years. For the past four years he also has been head coach of the girls basketball team.

He will continue to coach the Wildkat girls team that includes his daughter Cydney, who will be a junior next year.

Finberg built the Wildcat boys into a powerhouse program in Montana: His teams won five state championships (in 2014, 2011, 2006, 2005 and 2003) plus placed second twice and third four times over the past 14 years.

Finberg said Friday he just didn’t have the energy and time he felt the boys basketball program deserved and will ensure the transition to a new coach would be a smooth one.

Finberg is a 1984 Columbia Falls High School graduate who was an all-state basketball player for the Wildcats and member of the school’s hall of fame.

He played college basketball at Montana Western before moving back to his hometown and becoming an assistant basketball coach in the early 1990s.

He leaves the next coach with a group of up-and-comers.

“There are some good kids coming back [next season]. Our freshman team was undefeated this year, so there’s a ton of potential,” Finberg said.

Finberg’s commitment now is to the girl program.

“We’ve taken third with the girls the past two seasons and my focus is with them now,” Finberg said.

In his resignation letter Finberg gave thanks for all the support he has received.

“Columbia Falls is a great place to coach,” Finberg said.

Finberg is the all-time winningest basketball coach at Columbia Falls High School.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at [email protected].