Flowers calls it a career

ALBANY — Charles Flowers said when he got to the 30-year point in his career, he would walk away.

On Monday, he made good on his word.

Flowers told his players and the administration that he is retiring as a coach and teacher.

“I am going to be out of everything at the end of the school year,” said Flowers, who spent 19 seasons as a head football coach during his career, going 145-75.

He spent the last three years leading the Trojans and went 13-17. Dougherty made the playoffs in 2008, going 6-5 and winning the city championship, but lost in the first round to LaGrange, 28-6.

The Trojans went 4-6 this year and missed the playoffs. Flowers was lauded as a fantastic hire for Dougherty three years ago as he came to the program after spending 14 years turning Columbus Shaw into a state power, going 124-45. He led them to a Class AAAA state title in 2000 with a perfect 15-0 record.

His first head coaching job was a two-year stint leading West Point High from 1984-85.

Flowers said this is his 30th year as a coach and teacher, and doesn’t know what is in store for him next.

“Hard to say right now what we are going to do,” Flowers said. “Albany has been good to us.”

“I didn’t have any idea or indication he was going to retire,” Dougherty County Athletic Director Johnny Seabrooks said. “Any time you lose a coach of that quality and what he brings, you just hope you can find somebody that can replace him.”

This leaves two jobs open in the Albany school system with Albany High also conducting a search where Felton Williams filled in as the interim coach last season when Reginald Mitchell left in the summer.

Flowers said he would help find the next head coach if asked upon, but would stay out of the decision-making process. For now, he’s dealing with the emotions of walking away from the job he has done for his entire life.

“You feel like you have been relieved by talking to the players and with the administration in knowing you played a part in developing these young men you come into contact with every day,” he said. “That is hard to walk away from.”