After three decades of walking the sidelines on Friday night, El Reno High School assistant football coach and athletic director Rocky Carter is hanging up his whistle.
Carter confirmed Thursday that he will resign his coaching duties but remain as athletic director.
“I've decided to step back and do just the athletic director's job,” Carter said. “There's a lot of time involved in coaching and it was taking away from other sports as athletic director, so I thought it would be best to just do that.”
Carter returned to the sidelines two seasons ago as offensive line coach when Tom Cobble, a lifelong friend, returned to El Reno as head coach. Carter said it will be hard not coaching with Cobble, since the two have shared the same sidelines as well as coached against each other for over a decade.
“It's disappointing,” Carter said. “I'm glad I got to coach with Tom again, but I feel like I'm done and it's time to go. But it's been a great ride.”
Cobble said it will be different not seeing Carter on the sidelines.
“That will be unusual, but I think it will be harder on him (Carter) because it's hard to get coaching out of your blood,” Cobble said.
Carter has coached a total of 27 years in El Reno, serving as an assistant under Steve Edmonson, Dal Nichols and Cobble. He served as head coach for 13 seasons, two of which were undefeated regular seasons for EHS.
Carter was an assistant at Waurika and head coach two years at Hinton.
Carter's decision to step away is just one of the voids that could open up on the coaching staff. Former quarterback Ross Carter, who has been a lay coach for the past two seasons, is expected to leave to concentrate on college courses.
Cobble said a possibility exists that four to five assistant jobs could open up but he has not spoken with his current staff about their plans for next season.
Cobble's son, J.T., has been a lay coach serving as offensive coordinator the last two seasons – but is looking for a full-time position. He's received his teaching certification in physical education, but there are no such positions currently open in that field at El Reno.
“He's looking for a job. He would love to stay in El Reno and we would love to have him, but he needs a full-time job. He's applied here in El Reno as well as everywhere else,” Cobble said of his son.
Due to state funding issues statewide, Cobble said most coaching chances will more than likely not take place until late spring or summer.
“We're going to have some stuff to figure out,” Cobble said. “We've started negotiations, but with no teaching positions open and an almost hiring freeze, I'm a little concerned about what will happen.”