Charles Fant and Notre Dame High School football are indelibly linked after he coached the team to 81 victories over the past 12 seasons, making him the all-time wins leader for the Fighting Irish.
Even as he leaves that phase of his career behind, Fant should remain unforgettable within the Chattanooga program — and he knows he'll be taking a lot of good memories from his time leading the Irish.
Fant resigned Thursday, ending a tenure marked by multiple seasons of success and highlighted by a run to the TSSAA Division II-AA BlueCross Bowl state championship game in 2017. He won nine games in a season three times and had three seasons of double-digit victories (one each of 10, 11 and 12 wins).
"This was a tough decision. I didn't have to go, but it was time to go," Fant said. "I could feel the pressure lifted off my shoulders when I walked out of the building today, but I know at the same time we did a lot of great work here, and I was blessed with so many tremendous kids and support over the years."
A 1995 graduate of Vanderbilt who played quarterback and wide receiver for the Southeastern Conference program in Nashville, Fant's coaching career has showcased his offensive expertise.
In the 2018 season, Notre Dame rushed for nearly 6,000 yards while operating exclusively out of the old single-wing formation. The team had two rushers who totaled more than 1,500 yards apiece, another with more than 800 yards and two others with more than 400.
Fant's 2014 team scored 590 points in 14 games, reaching the Class 3A semifinals before losing 28-19 to state power Alcoa at Finley Stadium. The Irish were region champions that year as well as in 2017 and 2018, which remains their most recent playoff appearance.
"One of my former players, Kareem Orr, won the Super Bowl with the Rams and another former player of mine, Patrick Johnson, almost did last season with the Eagles," Fant said. "What's so neat is I get to be in the Eagles' locker room with Patrick and talk to him before and after games. Our kids have really given me some neat experiences over the last 12 years.
"It's not just the pro guys, but I have kids who have gone on to become doctors, attorneys, businessmen and owners, entrepreneurs, police officers and armed forces members. There are so many guys who have found a way to go pro and do something special with their lives that I was able to coach."
Fant finished with an 81-57 record at Notre Dame.
"As we sit here, I was just offered multiple coaching opportunities an hour after stepping down at Notre Dame," Fant said. "I have been very blessed, and my family and I are going to pray and see where the next path takes us."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.