WAUNAKEE, Wis. – A longtime athletic director near Madison, Wisconsin faces felony credit card fraud charges after he allegedly charged his cable bill, Green Bay Packers gear, meals and other personal expenses to his school.

Waunakee Community High School athletic director Brian Smith, 54, resigned in disgrace in June, days after he allegedly admitted to a Waunakee Police detective that he bilked the school of thousands over several years while elevating the athletic program to one of the best in the state, WKOW reports.

MORE NEWS: From Classroom to Consulate Chef: Culinary Student Lands Dream Job at U.S. Embassy in Paris

“He felt he is a fraud and disgrace and wanted everyone to know he made a mistake,” the detective wrote in the criminal complaint.

Smith was initially charged with two misdemeanor fraud charges, but one of the counts was recently upgraded to a felony, Dane County district attorney’s officials told the news site.

School officials noticed the suspicious spending when Smith allegedly used his school issued credit card to pay his cable bill and confronted him. Police contend Smith admitted to using the card for things he shouldn’t and offered two write district administrator Randy Guttenberg a check for $2,000.

The incident apparently spawned an investigation that revealed Smith allegedly charged $8,800 in meals, gas, Green Bay Packers gear and other personal expenses. In total, school officials flagged “hundreds” of unauthorized charges, WKOW reports.

Police contend Smith blamed his behavior on financial strains from his divorce and child rearing, according to the site.

The Waunakee Tribune reports that “the criminal complaint alleges that his son also purchased items using the card.”

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

While Smith’s legacy at the school will undoubtedly be tarnished by his alleged misdeeds, his influence as athletic director will also leave a lasting impression.

During his leadership, Waunakee High School’s football team won three state titles in a row, and set a state record for most consecutive wins with 48. Others teams – such as girls basketball, tennis and swimming, as well as boys soccer – also developed into strong programs during his tenure.

Several folks who commented online defended Smith.

“Call it what you will, but this error in judgement should not negate or diminish what Smith has done for the athletic program over many years in Waunakee. John 8:7,” Jon Quade posted to Facebook.

“Brian is a great father and basically raised his kids on his own,” Jason Burkholder wrote. “What he did was WRONG, and people make bad decisions and it’s hard to stop.”

“Poor guy … he was just trying to keep up with the wealthy Waunakee lifestyle,” Andy Ryan commented.

Others were less sympathetic.

“No oversight of my tax dollars!” Darlene Kohn wrote. “Knew this for years!”

“Financial troubles led him to buy crap at Packer Pro Shop at taxpayer expense?” Megan Forsythe posted. “Let me know how that helps your defense.”

“Seriously?” April Pitts wrote. “How are we as parents supposed to teach our kids to respect authorities when so many of them are not respectable?”