Wetumpka's Perry announces his retirement after 10 years with Indians
Tim Perry has spent the last 10 years at the helm of Wetumpka football. This past weekend, he announced that this would be his last season. (File photo)
By GRAHAM DUNN
Tim Perry, who led the Wetumpka Indians to a runner up finish in the state in Class 6A in 2017, announced this weekend that he is retiring.
Perry told his team after the Indians lost their first-round game at Saraland on Friday, that he would step down from the position.
“I heard a lot of coaches say when it’s time you’ll know it,” Perry said. “But the way I kinda felt, maybe a year ago… I started having these feelings. It’s not a refection on these kids. We didn’t have drama or issues… It was just time.”
Perry has been at the helm as head football coach and athletic director at Wetumka since 2012 and has led the team to consecutive playoff bids every year save his first season.
The 2017 team was a win away from winning the Class 6A title, but a loss to Pinson Valley in the championship game ended the run.
In his 10th and now final year, Wetumpka finished 5-6 for a second-consecutive season, losing both years in the first round of the playoffs.
Most of the decision was personal. He has been a part of football in some capacity since he was in high school 53 years ago.
“It’s been a part of my life growing up, five years of college, then coaching,” Perry said. “Once I’ve been away for a while. I’m sure I’ll have some withdrawals.
“But I’ve had a great career. I have no regrets except for maybe handling an issue better with a player or two. But I’ve been so blessed. I haven’t set the world on fire but I’ve coached some great people.”
He said he plans to spend more time with his family, including his parents who recently relocated to Destin, Fla. after living in West Virginia, his native state.
“It was 20 years ago, I thought I would coach forever,” he said. “I still love coaching, scheming, putting a plan together. That’s tough to walk away from.
“Another coach once told me and I didn’t put stock in it at the time, but whenever it becomes work and you aren’t as excited, it’s probably time to hang it up. And now, it feels more like work.”
Before arriving at Wetumpka, Perry spent 14 years at Alabama Christian Academy in two separate stints, leading the program to three region titles and six playoff berths. He is still the school’s winningest coach with 73 victories.
He left briefly for Monroe La., for two years joining former college teammates to coach high school. Yet he came back to ACA after the second season in 1991.
Perry left ACA in 2000 for a coaching job in Arkansas where he led Central Arkansas Christian to two state championship games, winning it all in 2004 in six years there.
Perry spent two seasons with his Alma mater at Harding University as offensive coordinator before briefly returning to high school coaching in Arkansas before getting the call to return to Alabama and Wetumpka in 2012.
Perry says he’s not ruling out a return to coaching but it would have to be the right job at the right time.
“There are still things I love about football,” he said. “but it feels like this is the right decision.”