WEST POINT — After winning his seventh Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A state title as a head coach, West Point football head coach Chris Chambless announced on Monday that he would be retiring as head coach of the Green Wave, sources confirmed to The Dispatch.
Chambless told his players on Friday, with his retirement becoming official on Monday. His last official day at West Point will be Dec. 19.
“It’s been tough, I’m not going to lie to you,” Chambless said. “I’ve felt like a big baby. It was hard letting go, but at the same time, down deep in my heart, I knew it was time. … For me and my family, the best thing for me to do was to go ahead and hand it off to someone else.”
The 2023 season completes a historic 18-year head coaching career at West Point where he finished with a record of 206-45.
This includes an 110-11 district record with 11 district titles and a streak of eight-straight state championship appearances, going 5-3 in state title games during that streak.
“What I’ve been thinking about is the people I’m going to miss,” Chambless said. “… What we’ve been able to do and sustain, it is hard. It’s hard going to a state championship eight years in a row, much less once. I’ve been fortunate enough to do it with some really good coaches and really good players and a really good community that loves their football. I’m blessed.”
Chambless is the lone head coach in Green Wave history to win 200 or more games, joining a select list of Mississippi high school football coaches to achieve the mark.
His head coaching career began at Caledonia in 1998 before heading to West Point in 1999 and assuming head coaching duties in 2006.
Chambless’s overall head coaching record across 19 seasons is 208-54, with only one losing season (his first) and 18-straight winning seasons while at West Point.
The Green Wave had 14 seasons of 10-plus wins with Chambless at the helm, including a streak of nine-straight seasons since 2015.
“It’s remained consistent since day one,” Chambless said. “West Point wants to win. There’s no doubt about it. There’s a lot of community pressure on coaches and kids to get the job done, but they’re also right behind you. This is an ‘all-for-one and one-for-all’ kind of community. They’re going to be with you through thick and thin.”
He won eight state titles in total during his time at West Point, as he was defensive coordinator for the Green Wave’s 2005 Class 4A state championship team before leading West Point to seven state titles as head coach.
“I told my kids I’m going to be their biggest fan,” Chambless said. “They know my number. They know who to call when they need something. I’m always going to be there for them, both current and former players.”
Every state title Chambless has won with West Point has been meaningful – to him, his family, coaches, players and the community – but the last one was extra special, as it capped an extraordinary career.
“After this one right here, it was a lot of joy, a lot of happiness,” Chambless said. “I saw the smiles on the kids’ faces. I saw how hard they worked. … I saw the community in the stands behind me, all smiling with tears of joy. That’s what I saw. That’s what made me feel good.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 46 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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