Rossview football coach Ron Lambert resigns

After guiding Rossview to the playoffs three of the past four years, including this past fall, football coach Ron Lambert has decided to resign as head coach Wednesday.

Lambert's resignation came by email from Rossview athletics director Johnny Miller late Wednesday.

"It's the best job I've ever had," Lambert told The Leaf-Chronicle Wednesday night. "Best school I've ever worked for."

Lambert said he routinely takes stock of his program after each season but began to think about stepping away last year. After deciding against it, those thoughts resurfaced after the Hawks' loss to Henry County Sept. 30.

"I've been embedded in football the last 39 years either as a player or coach," Lambert said. "I've been in coaching now for 24 years. 15 of those years in college and nine of those years in high school. It's a grind and it's started to take its toll on me. I prayed on it and this is the decision I came to."

Lambert said he told his team Wednesday afternoon.

"It was the hardest thing I've done," he said. "First person I saw when I walked into the room to see them was (sophomore running back) Fred Orr. I thought about what he would look like after I told them. After I explained to the kids my decision and the kids left, Fred was still sitting there. There were a lot of tears on both sides."

Lambert said he's not finished with coaching but knows he needs time away from it. He'll continue to teach at Rossview for the remainder of the school year.

"I don't know what the timetable will be with this time away," Lambert said. "I'm not sure when I'm going to want to jump back in. Maybe in three or four months, I'll have some direction. Maybe it will be three or four weeks. I know that right now, how I feel, I'm at a place in my life where I'm going to lay low for a while."

Lambert dismissed any notions about stepping down for health reasons, although he did admit that sleep has become difficult.

"I've never slept much anyway, but if I want to coach another five or 10 years I know I need to make sure I'm able to do that," he said. "The passion for this job has always pushed me through year after year. I just could not find that same kind of passion this past year."

Lambert guided Rossview to a 5-6 season that included a must-win in the regular season finale against Northeast. The Hawks beat the Eagles, 24-14, to advance to the 5A playoffs before losing to Memphis Central in the opening round two months ago.

In Lambert's seven seasons at the helm he guided Rossview to a 36-38 record. Aside from his first two seasons as coach, Rossview has not had a losing regular season record during his tenure.

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"While we are disappointed to lose him, we respect his decision and the hard work he has put into the program," Miller said in the email.

Lambert was named The Leaf-Chronicle/Legends Bank All Area Football Coach of the Year last month. He delegated more responsbility to his assistants than at any other time during his tenure at Rossview.

"There's a solid foundation (at Rossview)," he said. "There's great parent support, great support for the students and the administration is second to none."

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at 931-245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.