A Freedom High School coaching icon is calling it a career.

David Fletcher, the Patriots long-time boys and girls soccer coach, on Tuesday evening announced he was retiring after 28 years and 53 combined soccer seasons (47 as head coach) at FHS.

Fletcher was the Lady Patriots first coach when the program was established in 1993 and has been the only head coach since. He has served as boys head coach as well since 1995.

I have given all I had, as hard as I could, for as long as I could, and I have nothing left to give, Fletcher said. My family, especially my wife Jill, has supported me throughout my career and now it is time for me to take more time to be supportive of them.

I am grateful to all of my students and players and their families, (and) to all of the wonderful people I have coached with on the Freedom staff. I am most grateful to have had the opportunity to teach and coach with my daughter, Katherine, who is a much better teacher and coach than I could ever be.

Fletchers teams have combined for a 526-395-107 record with eight conference titles, 34 state playoff appearances and 16 state playoff wins. From 2011-2015, the FHS boys reached at least the second round of the 3A postseason each year.

Fletcher is a 13-time conference coach of the year, 12-time region coach of the year and state coach of the year. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association (NCSCA) Field of Honor. Fletcher also coached in the East-West All-Star Game (2002) and Clash of the Carolinas all-star game (2012)

A total of 39 of his former players have gone on to play collegiately, and two of those also played professionally.

Throughout this journey, my heroes have been the teachers and coaches I have worked beside and competed against over the years, Fletcher said. They spend long hours throughout the year, year after year, trying to help kids. I have been humbled to share my profession with such amazing people.

Fletcher was also active in the NCSCA, holding the title of regional chair for three years and secretary for nine years.

The Valdese native and 1982 East Burke High graduate went on to graduate from the University of North Carolina and has served as assistant athletic director at Freedom for the last five years. He was a long-time English teacher at FHS.

I believe the Freedom soccer program is on the upswing and will have an improved 2017-2018 school year in both the boys and girls seasons, Fletcher added.Entering a new conference that Freedom can be more competitive in will help, as will the return of lots of young talent from this past year.

Freedom soccer has always been about playing hard, playing smart, and playing together as a family.I am confident that tradition will continue and I look forward to following future Freedom teams in every sport.

Current FHS athletic director Casey Rogers expressed his gratitude for what Fletcher has done for the school and its athletics over the years.

I want to say thank you to Coach Fletcher for all his years of service, Rogers said. He has been a great friend and mentor to me personally, and I will forever be thankful to him and his family. Both Freedom soccer programs have been left in great positions due to Coach Fletcher's commitment to our student-athletes.

I wish nothing but the best for Coach and his family in retirement as he deserves nothing but the best in the next chapter of his life.

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Freedom's Fletcher retires after 53 combined seasons - Morganton News Herald