Charles Anthony told his players Tuesday night that he was stepping down as head coach of the Evergreen football team.
“It was the coach’s choice. We weren’t making any changes,” said Keenan Burris, Evergreen’s athletic director. “We were extremely satisfied with what Coach Anthony has done with the program.”
Anthony said after some 20 years in coaching business, it was time for a change.
“Sometimes it wears on you a little bit. I came to the decision, me and my wife, maybe get another guy in there with energy and passion to get these guys down the path to winning that they’re on right now.”
Anthony, a health and physical education teacher at Evergreen, plans on remaining in his position at the school, while also pursue opportunities in administration.
“It’s been a really good fit just to be in the Evergreen School District,” Anthony said. “I’m an Evergreen guy.”
Evergreen went 3-6 this season after a winless campaign in 2010. The Plainsmen concluded the season with a 29-17 win over Heritage to pick up a Class 4A Greater St. Helens League victory.
“He did an outstanding job of creating a hard-working, good relationship with our kids,” Burris said. “I didn’t want to lose him.”
Burris said he expects to post the position by the end of the week.
Anthony took over the program from Tom Smythe prior to the 2009 campaign. The Plainsmen went 4-5 in Anthony’s initial season. The team struggled to records of 1-8 and 0-9 before showing progress this season.
As far as his players, Anthony said he expects they will keep improving.
“Evergreen kids, they’re resilient. They always come through. They’re hard workers,” he said.
