Sep 18, 2014 10:18 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

David Ash has chosen to end his football career after continuous issues with concussions have made it increasingly difficult for him to stay on the field.

According to the Houston Chronicle, University of Texas (UT) head football coach Charlie Strong was not surprised by Ash's decision. Though Strong in his first year at Texas, he applauded Ash for his four-year playing career for the Longhorns which was unfortunately marred with head injuries of late.

Ash first complained of dizziness this season after the Longhorns' season opener against North Texas, a 38-7 victory. His first concussion came last year in a blowout loss to BYU in Sept., which caused him to miss the team's next game. He tried playing the following week, but had to come out at half time because he was still experiencing lingering effects of the concussion.

"It was a very tough call for him," Strong told the Chronicle. "He was very emotional. He's done a lot for this program."

The coach would not confirm that UT told him what to do, but said Ash made the right call.

"The trainers and doctors had been working with him, and his health is our major concern," Strong said. "We sat down to talk and he said, 'Coach, this is what I'd like to do.'"

After coming out early in the Longhorns' third game last year, Ash did not play the rest of the season and faced the possibility of giving up football. Before starting this season, the Chronicle reported, the QB discussed why he gave returning to the field one last shot in his fourth season.

"I would have been going through my whole life asking, 'What if?' I didn't want to live like that," he said.

According to ESPN, Ash has finished his career at Texas with 4,728 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and a solid 60 percent completion rate. The highlight season of his career was 2012, when he led the Longhorns to an 8-4 record and a come-from-behind 31-27 Alamo Bowl victory over Oregon State.

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