It has often been said that coaches just seem to know when the time is right to walk away.
For Greenbrier West head football coach Toby Harris, that time is now.
Harris tendered his resignation and Tuesday night at the monthly meeting of the Greenbrier County Board of Education, his resignation was made official.
“I didn’t know when I was going to quit, but I knew I would quit some time. It just happens to be this time,” Harris said. “I want to spend a little more time running around after my grandchildren and spend some more time with my wife. We like to travel. I have grandchildren in Myrtle Beach (S.C.) and we go down there a lot. We have grandchildren in Richmond (Va.) too. I just got back from the state lacrosse championship in Virginia this weekend watching my grandson play. I will have plenty to do.”
Harris was the first head football coach at Greenbrier West High School from 1968-77 before making his return to the sidelines in Charmco four years ago.
After compiling a 65-35-1 record in his initial campaign, Harris went 35-10 in round two which included four trips to the state football playoffs and three trips to the quarterfinal round.
“I am pleased and I have had a a lot of great coaches there working with me. The Greenbrier West kids are special,” Harris said. “They have a good history of winning over the years. It caught on that first year I was back and the momentum kept rolling.”
Greenbrier West Athletic Director Jared Robertson admitted the decision for Harris to step down caught them a little off guard, but did not come as a complete shock.
“It did catch us all a little by surprise, but obviously at coach Harris’ age you don’t expect him to coach another 20 years most likely,” Robertson said. “I think he was at the point where every year, he tossed it around as to what he wanted to the following year.”
With many feeling the best playoff run for the Cavaliers was two years away, Harris led West to as 10-2 record in his first year back as head coach.
“That was a great bunch of kids and a good group to work with,” Harris said about the 2019 team. “They were really hard workers and everything fell in place.”
Prior to 2019, the Cavaliers last made the playoffs in 2014 and had three wins or less from 2015-2018.
“We were in a transition period when he took over, but he put a staff in place that really cared about Greenbrier West and he led us down the line,” Robertson said. “We have had a really solid four years with him back in charge.”
Following a 10-2 season last year, Greenbrier West is once again in the conversation for the 2023 Class A playoffs returning a strong group of veterans.
In maybe an unusual way, Robertson feels that could have been a factor in Harris’ decision.
“Coach Harris has a lot of grandkids and he loves to fish and camp,” Robertson said. “I also think he feels like we have a chance to be pretty good this year since we have a big senior class. Out of respect for a new person, he thinks it is important for them to get off to a solid start to their career, whoever that may be. I respect him for looking at it that way and wanting to help the next head coach.”
According to Harris, that concept was part of the consideration to step away at this time.
“I have really enjoyed the last four years with the kids. We have had some really good times and we have had some success. We have a lot of good young coaches, so it might just be the right time to pass it on,” Harris said. “I used to joke with them when I first took the job that I wasn’t going to do this after I am 80. Well, I am pretty close. I have a birthday tomorrow and I will be 79.”
With the official start of the 2023 high school football season less than two months away, the process for hiring a new coach will begin in earnest.
“The job will get posted Thursday for a week. I would expect the week after that, anyone that applied will get contacted about interviews,” Robertson explained. “In a prefect world, the July Board (of Education) meeting on the second Tuesday of the month, will be when they are officially hired. That gives the new coach a couple of weeks to get a plan together before official practice starts.”
The final decision on the new head coach will be made by the Board of Education, but the recommendation will come from the principal at Greenbrier West.
West is also in a transition phase in regards to the principal position where Adam Young takes over as of the first of July.
“Probably one of his first duties for Adam will be recommending who the new coach will be,” Robertson said. “Adam is from Summersville and has been the assistant principal at Webster County the last couple of years. I am not sure how he will want to handle the process just yet, but he is very excited to get started.”
Greenbrier West hosts Pendleton County Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. to open the season.