Kristen McDonnell took to Twitter Monday evening to announce that she is stepping down after a wildly successful eight-year run as the Wamps' coach.

Kristen McDonnell, who built the Braintree High girls basketball team into a state powerhouse, winning five South Sectional crowns and two Division 1 state championships over the past six seasons, announced on Twitter on Monday night that she is stepping down “with a very heavy heart.”

Tom Herlihy, whose daughters Bridget and Brianna both starred for the Wamps under McDonnell, said the stunning development was due to a “parent revolt.”

“I knew there were problems in the ranks, but I didn’t know it would come to this,” he said. “To be honest with you, I don’t blame Kristen at all.

“The bottom line is it’s a thankless job to begin with, and she had parents who showed absolutely no gratitude at all. It was all about them, all about their kids. ... Totally mind-blowing.”

“You hear this all the time,” Herlihy added. “The parents are so involved in the day-to-day goings-on of the team. They go and watch the games and they all consider themselves experts, even though they don’t have any credentials. But Kristen played in college (at Stonehill, where she scored 1,215 career points), she played in high school (Boston Latin), she was a star in both. She’s got a lot of coaching experience. She’s a bona fide expert; you can’t dispute that. She’s a fully qualified and accomplished coach. These parents, their hearts get in the way of their heads. They see their kids sitting on the bench and they feel bad for them and so they lash out at the coach.

“As a result, she decides not to take it any longer and she leaves.”

Another source close to the program called it a “sad day for the coaching community,” and corroborated Herlihy’s account of what prompted the move.

McDonnell was 166-25 over her eight seasons at the school, including a 63-game winning streak. She led the Wamps to back-to-back Division 1 state championships in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. The latter team finished 25-0 and is considered by many to be the best high school girls basketball team in state history.

Braintree finished 21-5 this season, falling to Springfield Central in the state final.

Neither McDonnell nor Braintree athletic director Mike Denise could be reached for comment.

McDonnell’s statement read:

“It’s with a very heavy heart that I announce my resignation as the girls basketball coach at BHS. I consider myself the luckiest person out there to have been afforded the opportunity to coach such incredible players & people over the past 8 years. I’m also so fortunate to have coached alongside an amazing staff and to have coached under the leadership of the best AD & true friend, Mike Denise. Thank you to the Braintree community, Wamp Nation (!), BCAM, Al Barese, Bob Whitney, Joe Cody, Kara Hines, Bob Crook & his staff, Marty, & everyone else who I have been blessed to share these past 8 years with.

“A special thanks to those families who have not only supported me but have welcomed me into their family - the Russell’s, Herlihy’s, & Norton’s, to name a few of many. I am so proud to have you as lifelong friends.

“I wish the Wamps the best of luck as they continue to achieve at a high level. These kids are what’s right in high school sports.

“Go Wamps!”

Bridget Herlihy and Brianna Herlihy each scored 1,000 career points at Braintree and now are playing Div. I college ball at Villanova. They were part of the famed 2014-15 team, along with Molly Reagan (Liberty), Ashley Russell (Penn) and current senior Keelah Dixon.

“(The former stars) are very disappointed,” Tom Herlihy said. “My daughter (Brianna) called me today in tears. She said, ‘Are you reading all the mean things they are saying about Coach? What’s the matter (with them)?’” I had no answer for her.

“She’s an excellent basketball coach,” Tom Herlihy added. “She was a good mentor to my kids. And she’s very fair. It wasn’t always good news with my kids. I know people think it was always a charmed life for my kids, but my kids had their ups and downs like anybody else. Kristen (sometimes) delivered bad news to my kids, and my kids came home with it. I certainly didn’t blame her. If she thought my kids needed to do something and they weren’t doing it, she’s the boss, right? They either had to meet her expectations or live with the consequences.”