JOHNSTON — The more Hubert Morris thought about it, the more it made sense.
At age 76, and having just completed an undefeated season at 12-0 in guiding the Wardlaw Patriots back to a football state title — the school’s fourth in 12 seasons — the idea of stepping aside and ending his coaching career while on top began to gather momentum and appeal.

Immediately after the state title run he had not really considered the end of his career, thinking he would make one more run at a title, one which would definitely mark his final season of coaching.

However, as time passed he began to consider leaving more and more.
Weeks went by and he couldn’t decide. His love for his players always held him back.
But by Friday he had reached a decision, and turned in his resignation.
“I had been thinking about it for a while, but on Friday I turned in my resignation,” Morris said following the school’s Awards Day ceremonies on Monday. “In the end I just thought it was a good time to go out.”

Still, the decision was not an easy one to make. He is already missing the practice field.
“Football hasn’t even started yet and I already miss it,” he said. “I’ll miss the kids and my players even more though. They are what kept bringing me back — not the winning and losing. They kept me younger than I really am. We were able to accomplish a lot of things while I was here and I’m proud of that.”

Wardlaw Headmaster Ben Couch said longtime assistant Chalmers Carr would take over as acting head coach for the 2009 season until a permanent coach could be brought in for the 2010 school year.

Morris became the Patriots’ head coach in 1996, and placed a region championship team on the field just two years later in 1998 when Wardlaw was 10-2 overall. The next five seasons brought 60 wins, five more region titles and three state championships. His overall mark at Wardlaw will stand at 106-53.

Prior to his tenure at Wardlaw, Morris also coached at Augusta Christian (12-29), North Augusta High School (91-71-2 with 5 region titles) and Strom Thurmond High School (54-13-2 with 3 region titles and one state championship). In a coaching career that spans four decades from 1966 to 2008, Morris’ teams were a combined 263-166-4 with 12 region titles and 5 state championships.

He was named Coach of the Year in SCISA four times, and once in the S.C. High School League.
Morris has also sent around 60 of his players on to the next level of football, including three players from what will be his final team in Kevin Ginn (Hargrave Military Academy), Jorgedebro Pacifico (Newberry) and Travis Gagnon (Newberry)

“I’ve enjoyed it,” Morris said of his years in coaching. “I never knew I would be able to do it this long, but I’ve had some good players and I have been around a lot of good people over the years. You couldn’t ask to have been around better kids than I have had. I’ve had good players and good coaches and that’s why I’ve been successful. Everything ended on a good note, just like you would write it up.”