Ray Woods believes he and his football coaching staff were on the way to doing good — maybe even great — things at Las Vegas Robertson High School.

Yet Woods also acknowledges that there is one overriding credo when it comes to running a football program.

"This happened under my watch, and we're responsible for that," said Woods, the now former Cardinals head coach. "It's the bottom line."

What happened under his watch are hazing allegations that hit the program days into practice for the 2008 season in August.

The allegations that six former Cardinals players hazed six freshmen — including using a broomstick handle to sodomize one player — during a four-day camp northwest of Las Vegas led to the suspensions of Woods and his coaching staff as well as Robertson athletic director Mike Yara.

The incident also forced investigations by New Mexico State Police and Las Vegas City Schools.

Yara was cleared of any wrong-doing and returned to his duties last week, but Woods and his six assistant coaches resigned over the weekend. Woods said it was time to let the program move on instead of waiting for the results of the district's investigation. It was Woods' first head coaching job.

"You've got to move on," Woods said. "The kids need to come together and heal together. There is no more limbo, and they can focus on (interim head coach) Richard Martinez's style and the way he does things. I hope these young men can bounce back from the losses they have taken."

Las Vegas City Schools superintendent Rick Romero said the district's investigation was completed on Monday and he is in the process of submitting a report to the state Public Education Department. He added that the former coaching staff acted in a professional matter throughout the ordeal.

Still, Woods defended how he and his coaches handled the situation. He said no one was aware of what happened and that no coaches were present for any part of the hazing. When they were apprised of the situation, Woods said he called Robertson administrators immediately.

When the coaching staff was suspended, Woods said they followed every direction given to them by administrators — even not going to the team's first two games, both losses.

Woods added that he told the players prior to the camp he had a no-hazing policy and any violators would be kicked off the team, which he says happened to the six players after the incident.

"The fact that the coaches know hazing happens at camps, we addressed it as a serious issue," Woods said. "We're trying to build a bond, a brotherhood. We did let them know how to treat their brother. You would never think that it would get to this magnitude, that this would come into the thought of these kids or anybody, for that matter.

"As a man, I have been here for 31 years and been a part of football for 15, 20 years. I can never imagine something like this occurring. You can't prepare for something you can't imagine."

Woods said he has been contacted by several coaches from around the state, and some have even offered to take him as an assistant this season.

Woods is not sure what the future holds for him, other than opportunity.

"With everything that has happened, I've got to get with my family and discuss what routes we might have to take or want to take," Woods said.

Romero said he hopes Woods and his coaches would get another chance.

"I think coach Woods, Juan Uranga and Seth Morris are good young men," Romero said. "They just got caught in a bad situation. I hope they still have a bright future ahead of them."

Woods said he harbors no ill will toward the school district, the school or the community. In fact, he says, the community was very supportive during the ensuing weeks.

"We had parents calling, crying about the situation," Woods said. "You know, I love coaching. This is what I do. This is where my heart is. Anyone who has seen what we've done over the past four months knows what we're all about. It's an unfortunate situation that has affected the lives of a lot of people."