Midfield football coach Rod Isaac announced on Tuesday that he is retiring.

Isaac spent 15 years as the Patriots head coach.

“I still got love for the game, but I just don’t have the energy to get up and taste it like I used to,” Isaac said. “Just got that time to let it go.

“I’m just tired. I put everything into it, but everybody has so much to offer kids now that you’re constantly competing for their time. When I came up, it was just playing football.”

Assistant principal and basketball coach Courtney Jones said the school will begin looking for a new coach as soon as possible with assistant coaches taking over responsibilities.

Isaac compiled a 73-89 record in 15 seasons at Midfield, including 10 trips to the playoffs. Isaac was also head coach at Woodlawn 2000-2003 where he was 9-32 in four seasons.

Before taking over as head coach at Midfield, Isaac served as an assistant and defensive coordinator for the Patriots. He was also an assistant coach at Thompson and Anniston.

Isaac played high school football at Jess Lanier, now Bessemer City, where he was an all-state defensive back under Carroll Cox. The Purple Tigers lost the 1986 Class 6A championship to Lee-Montgomery.

He was a four-year starter at defensive back for Alabama A&M, earning all-conference.