Chris Barrett

THN football coach retiring

Back... the longest current tenured high school football coach in wabash valley has stepped down.... << chris barrett has spent the last 19 years as the terre haute north head coach....but this fall was his last, he's resigned as the patriots head coach to spend more time with his family.

"bitter sweet.

Don't want to give it up.

Timing is right.

Give someone else fresh start.

Family and personnel goals need to chase".

Barrett will be walking away knowing he gave everything he had to the patriots program... "having that title of coach is special to me and i've valued every second of it.

Never taken that title lightly".

The patriots weren't to be taken lightly under barrett.....for most of his time north played in the mic, one of the toughest conferences in the nation....despite the odds stacked against them barrett got his guys to buy in picking up wins against the likes of carmel, center grove and the schools only win ever against warren central... "beat every time in mic and conference indiana once.

Usually when you get those big wins.

Not suppose to get them.

To see that on kids face.

Fight for what you want".

Most of the patriots biggest postseason moments have been under barrett....he won two of the schools three sectional titles and the programs only regional title in 2013 when north finished in the final four in 5a.... "as much time as you put in great to get that reward now and then.

To win regional and get to final.

To win another sectional.

Biggest things for me my sons were on those teams so it made it extra special".

Barrett did get to enjoy coaching his sons, but he'll tell you he had a lot of adopted sons over the years.....he saw so many of them do big things on the gridiron but he beams with joy now with the relationship he still has with many of his former players and the great things they've accomplished since leaving his program.

"still in contact with dan millington, dan watson, o'leary.

These guys go on to do good things in sports world.

Guys have become police officers.

Several go to west point.

To be small part of those kids be small part