Florida State's Andrews Says This Season Will Be His Last

Sports News - November 4th, 2009 - Written by Scott

After 47 years of coaching, Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews has decided to call it quits. Andrews announced his decision in a handwritten statement on Tuesday. His decision to retire following this year has been expected following comments he had made prior to the beginning of the season. The announcement was made without a press conference and a lot of attention which was exactly the way he wanted it. With all of the rumors surrounding the Noles' coaching staff's future, Andrew's decided now was the time.

"Because of a lot of speculation and questioning from friends, family and media, we decided to go ahead and do it now," Andrews said. "It's time to be about us, my family."

Andrews spent the last 26 years as an assistant under head coach Bobby Bowden and played an important role in developing the foundation of a Florida State program that had 14 consecutive years of finishing in the top five in the Associated Press poll and winning two national titles. Under his direction, he has had 73 players selected in the NFL draft, including 18 in the first round. Such stars include, Deion Sanders, Peter Boulware, Derrick Brooks, LeRoy Butler, Sam Cowart, Terrell Buckley, and Marvin Jones. Following Tuesday's practice, more than 20 current players surrounded their beloved coach as he addressed the media.

"As much as I love Florida State and love these guys back here, time has just got so important for me now," Andrews said. "And I can't coach football and do what I need to do with the responsibilities that I have now."

His last day of work will be February 10, 2010 and he will continue coaching through the remainder of the season and the bowl game if the Seminoles become eligible. Andrews and his wife, Diane, will remain in Tallahassee as they are helping raise three grandchildren following the death of their son Ronnie two years ago. The fiery defensive coordinator will be known for being a very tough coach on the field, but a coach who really cared about his players. Molding the lives of his pupils off the field was just as important to him as their production on the field. Ironically, one of Andrew's last games will be against Clemson, whose head coach Kevin Steele was on Andrew's staff for four years after leaving in 2007.

"People don't realize it but he had a very soft --- he'll probably get after me for saying this ---- caring, loving touch off the field," Steele said. "He really cared about his players and his staff members. And then in terms of the X's and O's part of it ---- really, very, very intelligent and smart."

The Seminoles' defense has not had the success this season they had experienced in year's past, but Andrews will undoubtedly go down as one of the best assistant coaches and defensive coordinators in college football history.

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