JOHNSTON, S.C. --- The more Hubert Morris thought about it, the more it made sense.

At 76, and having just completed a 12-0 season in guiding Wardlaw Academy to a state football title -- the school's fourth in 12 seasons -- the idea of ending his coaching career while on top began to gather momentum and appeal.

He reached a decision Friday and turned in his resignation.

"I had been thinking about it for a while," Morris said Monday. "In the end, I just thought it was a good time to go out."

He is already missing the practice field.

"Football hasn't even started yet and I already miss it," he said. "I'll miss the kids and my players even more, though. They are what kept bringing me back -- not the winning and losing. They kept me younger than I really am. We were able to accomplish a lot of things while I was here, and I'm proud of that."

Wardlaw Headmaster Ben Couch said longtime assistant Chalmers Carr will take over as acting head coach for the 2009 season.

Morris became the Patriots' head coach in 1996 and placed a region championship team on the field two years later, when Wardlaw went 10-2 overall.

The next five seasons brought 60 wins, five more region titles and three state championships. His overall mark at Wardlaw is 106-53.

Before his tenure at Wardlaw, Morris also coached at Augusta Christian (12-29), North Augusta High School (91-71-2 with five region titles) and Strom Thurmond High School (54-13-2 with three region titles and one state championship).

In a coaching career that spans four decades, starting in 1966, Morris' teams were a combined 263-166-4 with 12 region titles and five state championships.

He was named Coach of the Year in the S.C. Independent Schools Association four times, and once in the S.C. High School League.

"I've enjoyed it," Morris said. "I never knew I would be able to do it this long, but I've had some good players and I have been around a lot of good people over the years. You couldn't ask to have been around better kids than I have had.

"I've had good players and good coaches, and that's why I've been successful."