Chambless reflects on past 25 years with West Point
West Point, Miss. (WCBI)- Retirement is always one of the toughest decisions for a coach. So much so that it was hard for West Point head coach Chris Chambless’ family to believe it.
“My wife looked at me the other day and said, ‘so you’re really doing this,'” Chambless said. “So she wasn’t even convinced until the very end and I wasn’t either I don’t think, but I just knew in my heart and my gut that it was time.”
Chambless’ accolades speak for themselves but he takes more pride in helping his players develop as young men than any trophy.
“These parent who drop their kids off with us and entrust us to take care of them and teach them the right way,” Chambless said. “That’s what means more to me than anything else.”
The relationships Chambless developed throughout the community is what stands out most to those who know him best.
“He’s going to be most remembered by his players and how he treated them and the way he cared for them and had their best interests in mind,” West Point assistant and former player Roger Burton said.
It was always a priority to invest in those around him. That started with pee wee football.
“Friday nights you might not get home until 11 or 12 and then Saturday morning at 8 o’clock he’s back out there watching the kids play football,” West Point Superintendent and former assistant Dr. Ken Pickens said. “I don’t think a lot of people would do that.”
West point has always been a football town, but Chambless helped elevate to a powerhouse and a staple in the state championship game.
“He took the success that this town had and took it to a new level,” Pickens said. “And that’s the part that’s going to be hard, those are some big shoes to fill.”
Chambless was already a legendary coach but he ended his career in storybook fashion, winning another state title. He said ending his career on top gives him some peace of mind and he has believes the green wave will keep rolling even after he’s gone.
“I feel very confident that they aren’t going to let this thing go,” Chambless said. “It’s going to get even better.”
The play caller is giving up the headset, he isn’t leaving west point any time soon.
“He’s going to be around and sometimes he’ll be around me and the other superintendents and we will be talking football,” Pickens said.
Chambless is ready to embrace the next chapter of his life.
“My family and I want to stay in west point,” Chambless said. “We don’t want to get to far away and hopefully it works out if it’s god’s plan and we stay here and this place embraced us and it just feels like home.”
