There's one thing about coaching football Jim Drewry will not miss ... and he had to do it 157 times during his 50-year coaching career.

"I'm never going to have anymore of those losing nights," said the state's all-time winningest coach. "Those nights when you face a group of young men who've played their hearts out and came up short."

The Booneville Blue Devils' coach, 79, made it official Friday, retiring after 50 seasons with a career record of 346-157-5 in head coaching stops in Booneville, Kossuth and Tishomingo. His teams made 17 state playoff appearances and won three state championships in Booneville in 1990, 1999 and 2000.

His 2009 team finished 13-1 overall and lost 47-12 to Aberdeen in the Class 3A state semifinals.

Drewry, who has had numerous health problems in recent years, including two heart surgeries, cited poor health as his main reason for stepping down.

"My health has continued to get worse," he said Friday. "It has taken its toll on me. That's the only reason I retired. Last year we played 14 games and the other coaches took care of everything.

"That's not fair."

Drewry decided to retire during spring practice, but delayed his announcement because the school's baseball team - which included a number of his football players - was in the state playoffs.

"I'm going to miss working with the kids, no doubt," he said. "It just wouldn't be fair to them for me to keep coaching.

"It all boils down to the fact that I couldn't do my job."

Who's next?

Booneville superintendent of schools, Ricky Neaves, said Drewry's replacement would be one of his three longtime assistants - Rick Coggin, Riley Presley or Mike Mattox. All three played for Drewry.

"We believe the best person for the job is on the staff," Neaves said. "Those three assistants have been with him forever. We most likely will name one (head coach) at our June board meeting."

Drewry hoped the school would select one of the three assistants as his successor.

"I'm going to miss my association with these assistant coaches," he said. "We were so close. Three of them played ball for me. They're like family to me."

Drewry's wife, Edna, has been with him 47 of the 50 seasons. The couple has two sons, Barry and Steve. Both played for the father.

This is the second time Drewry has retired from the game. He exited in 1987 after nine seasons in Kossuth. He returned in 1989 for one season at the former Tishomingo High School. He started his second tenure in Booneville in 1990. His previous stint at Booneville was from 1965-77.

"I went crazy those two years, that's all there is to it," Drewry told the Journal prior to the 2009 season.

Added his wife, "I told him to find a coaching job and get out of my hair!"

Fellow coaches react

Pontotoc coach Charlie Dampeer finds it "remarkable" Drewry remained in the profession so long.

"To be in the business this long and to have been as successful as he's been," Dampeer said. "He did what he always did ... and it always worked.

He got those kids to play for him."

Former Baldwyn coach Jimmy Dillinger, who retired after leading the rival Bearcats to a state title in 2008, was amazed by Drewry's ability to relate to his players through the years.

"His coaches have told me that he was always able to motivate his players," Dillinger said. "To be able to do it all those years ... his record speaks for itself.

"I really hate to see him get out of it, but I've enjoyed my retirement. I hope he does, too."

Coggin, who played for Drewry in Booneville, and has been his assistant there and in Kossuth, called Drewry's career "a great run."

"A lot of people have had Coach Drewry retiring every year for the last 10 years," he said, then laughed. "It's always sad. It's a day you hope never comes."