Law’s Phillips to retire after 55 years

Charlie Phillips has been a coach in some capacity at Jonathan Law in Milford for more than a half-century.

He served as either a head or assistant coach in six different sports, half of them for more than 20 seasons each. He also taught and served as athletic director.

Phillips had given up a little at a time before completing his career as the boys cross country coach for the Lawmen. But he didn’t make a final decision until about a month ago. The school announced his retirement Thursday on its athletic Twitter account after 55 years of coaching.

All told, Phillips, 77, coached in seven different decades.

“I’m sure there will be some feelings once the next season comes along,” Phillips said. “I’m still (putting together) the schedules for boys and girls cross country (for the fall).”.

Phillips taught English for 35 years at Law, starting in 1968, retiring in 2003. He was the athletic director from 1975-87, succeeded by Frank Luysterborghs.

It ended up being 22 seasons as the head boys cross country coach (2000-22). He was the head coach of the boys track team from 1985-2011. Phillips said when he was done with that, he lent a hand to help Linwood Schulte, the girls track coach, for a few seasons.

Among the student-athletes Phillips coached were his own sons, Kevin and Kyle, who still happen to be the two all-time leading scorers in boys basketball at the school.

“He generally was interested in helping people. I don’t think everybody coaches for that reason today,” said Kevin Phillips, the vice president for enrollment and student affairs, and an assistant men’s basketball coach at Division II Lees-McRae in Banner

Contributed photo Charlie Phillips is retiring after 55 years as a coach at Jonathan Law High School in Milford.