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Citing health reasons, Juneau-Douglas head football coach Bill Chalmers has decided to retire after more than four years roaming the Crimson Bears' sideline.

Chalmers said walking away was something his body told him he had to do. The 71-year-old coach will have hip-replacement surgery later this month.

"It was difficult to not be out there with the boys every day. But it was so painful to be out there that it wasn't a matter of making a decision like that," he said. "The body said, 'You can't do it.' And I said, 'Fine.'

Chalmers took over for Reilly Richey in 2005, leading JDHS to the school's first-ever state championship. The Bears made the state semifinals in 2006 before returning to the big stage and winning it all again in 2007. In 2008, Chalmers led the Bears back to the state title game, where they came up short against Service, 22-14.

Four-plus years not counting all of 2009, three title games, two state championship banners to hang in the gym - now that's impressive.

Chalmers began the 2009 season with the team, but had to call it quits soon after when it became too painful for him to be there every day. Along with his surgery, Chalmers also said he has issues with some of his vertebrae, which are causing him to lose feeling in his hands.

"I'm going to be having surgery at the end of this month, and there are other things for which we can't have surgery that make it difficult for me to coach anymore," he said Wednesday. "And, you know, I'm 71 years old. I don't need to (coach). I've got great assistant coaches, and Rich Sjoroos took over as the interim head coach and did a fantastic job this year. If he's willing to take over the head spot (permanently), there's nobody better anywhere."

Chalmers said there are many fond memories from his coaching days at JDHS, but last year's playoff win over South Anchorage in the state semis tops the list.

"I think probably the thing that sticks out the most in my mind is the semifinal game last year when we came from down two touchdowns to win the game in the last five or so minutes," he said. "That was the greatest high school football game I've ever seen."

Chalmers said he will miss spending time with the kids and his fellow coaches, but there are a lot of other things he'd like to do - like spending more time with his wife of 25 years, Debbie.

"I don't fish, but I'm going to write, travel and get some rest," he said. "I've got family in Minnesota, and I'll spend a lot of time there. And I've always promised Debbie that we would one day visit Ireland."