By By RYAN ROCKWELL, Sports Writer
ROBERSONVILLE -- After 30 years patrolling the sideline, Robbie Calfee, athletic director and women's basketball coach of Roanoke High School, is hanging up his red sweater and taking it easy.
Calfee, who is most know for his 21-year stint as head coach of Roanoke's women's basketball team, coached in his final game on Thursday as the Redskins lost to Pamlico County, 60-39, in the second round of the Class 1-A state playoffs.
The longtime head coach has accomplished most everything a high school coach can accomplish. With a record of 362-179, the fiery coach has won consistently, going to the state playoffs in 20 of his 21 years.
But all good things must come to an end and for Calfee, it's that time.
Calfee began his career at Walstonburg Junior High in Greene County and coached football, basketball and baseball. Then, he moved on to Robersonville where he's spent the last 28 years coaching football, baseball and then girls' basketball, when the school could not find a coach.
Since taking over the position, his teams have been the regular season conference champs in the Northeastern, Tobacco Belt, Tar-Roanoke and Four Rivers nine times and tournament champs eight times. He's won six sectional championships and finished as sectional runner-up twice. Two times he coached regional champions, while finishing second in the regionals twice. Calfee led his Redskins to the state 1-A championship game in 1995-96 and 1999-00.
Calfee said his first team at Roanoke in the 1982-83 season was his reason for remaining a women's head coach.
Calfee, who has coached in almost every sport during his tenure, enjoys working with driven young ladies.
True to form, this year's Redskin squad, which finished 15-9 overall and 7-5 in the Four Rivers, qualified for the state playoffs. Roanoke beat Cape Hatteras in the first round before falling to Pamlico County.
When May hits, the coach is done.
Calfee has been the athletic director at Roanoke for the past 10 years and has witnessed two boys basketball state titles and a baseball team finish runner up, not to mention what his team's have done. Calfee coached the only player, boy or girl, to have their jersey retired at Roanoke.
With all the stress and responsibility of coaching, teaching and directing an athletic program, Calfee is ready for a change of pace.