Longtime DII East Stroudsburg head coach Denny Douds retired during his team’s game against Ohio Dominican in one of the most unique ways we’ve ever seen. In the game’s final seconds, Douds called a fourth timeout — yes, you only have three — to let everyone know that he’d be retiring after 45 years of coaching:
This DII coach retired after 45 years by calling a timeout and leaving the field like a total boss
Elite way to retire.
@RedditCFB
“I nudged the official in front of me and I said, ‘Sir, we are going to call a fourth timeout. I know that is illegal, you’re going to penalize it, but that’s OK. I am retiring,’” Coach Douds said via WNEP-16. “I called timeout with four seconds to go, blew the whistle, the kids came in, and I told them this is what we are doing.”
Douds was first hired at East Stroudsburg as its head coach in 1974, but he was an assistant there since 1966. When he retired, Douds was the NCAA’s active leader in career wins with 264, as well as games coached (471). In 2008, he set a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for wins, and he ranks 16th all-time in NCAA all-division history in career wins, and seventh in games coached.
“I told my wife when I leave the stadium, I am going to tip my hat and say, ‘I love ya,’” Douds said. “I tipped my hat, walked to the car, and smiled all the way home.”
According to the school, Douds will still be around, taking on increased fundraising responsibilities, and will continue serving as an assistant professor of Sport Management.
This is hands down the greatest coaching retirement we’ve seen yet — even Steve Spurrier didn’t retire quite like this! Congrats, and enjoy retirement, coach.
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