Hardee steps down: Long-time soccer coach calls it quits
For the second time in less than a week, a longtime head coach has stepped down at Warren County High School.
Charlie Hardee, who has coached the Pioneer boys soccer program since 1988, turned in his resignation to school officials on Thursday.
“It’s just time for me to step down,” Hardee said. “I’ve taken the program as far as I think I can, and I need to back off and relax a little bit.
“I’ve been going 100 miles an hour forever, and now I need a little rest and some new perspective.”
The 15-year Pioneer coach said he had pondered stepping down for some time, and even discussed leaving his position with his wife, Sherry, last season.
“Sherry and I have talked about it for quite a while,” he said. “It’s not something that’s popped up and I did it overnight. It’s been something we’ve discussed even back to last year.
“There’s a good group of boys coming up (through the program), and I wanted to try and get them on right path this season, then go from there. I believe I was able to do that, and I feel like whoever gets them will have a heck of a young team.”
Hardee’s 2003 Pioneer squad finished with a 6-8-1 record, ending their season with a 1-0 loss to Riverdale in the District 7-AAA tournament semifinals.
“You can measure success by wins and losses, if that’s what you want to do,” Hardee noted of this year’s team. “What I try to look at is the end of the season, and we finished in a flurry. We won last four or five games, and our last game was a hard-fought game played under tough conditions.
“So to me, I had a successful season. To heck with the wins and losses if you can get them to understand that they don’t quit, and to keep at it. If I’ve helped do that in any way, I’ve done what I set out to do.”
Hardee expressed his appreciation to the several coaches, parents and other supporters that have helped build the Pioneer soccer program during his long career.
“I’ve had some great people who helped me along the way, it’s not all been me,” he said. “I’ve been there, because it’s been my job, but I’ve had people all the way through that have played a big part in it.
“If hadn’t been for all those parents and kids, there wouldn’t have been a program. I am very appreciative for all they’ve done, and I’ve had a great experience.”