RESERVE — Just days after leading the Riverside Academy football team to its first Louisiana High School Athletic Association state title, Rebels head coach Bill Stubbs announced his retirement.

Stubbs notified his players during a team meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Assistant coach Chris Lachney, who has served as Stubbs’ defensive coordinator, was named his successor, effective immediately.

“I knew I was coming into my fifth year,” Stubbs said. “I knew what it would really take to try to fulfill my obligation to Riverside. At the same time, I’m getting older, so I was like, ‘OK. I’ve got to get this done.’ All the stars just aligned. I’m ready to go do stuff with my family.”

Stubbs was hired in February of 2012 to replace Mickey Roussel, who spent 22 years as the head football coach and sometimes softball coach, and for whom the football field is named.

Roussel led the Rebels football team to three runner-up finishes.

Stubbs had led Salmen High School to three Class 4A state titles and compiled a career record of 143-40 in 15 seasons from 1997 to 2001.

He retired in 2001 to go into private business as director of the Parisi Speed School in Slidell.

Riverside Academy Athletic Director Timmy Byrd managed to lure Stubbs out of retirement in 2012 to take over the Rebels.

“It wasn’t just about getting the championship,” Byrd said. “Yeah, we’re proud of that, but we’re also proud of the life lessons he instilled in our kids so that they can have great success in life.”

Byrd said Stubbs also brought with him the strength and conditioning methods of the Parisi School.

“He implemented that with all our athletes,” Byrd said.

Byrd said Lachney is the perfect man to replace Stubbs, adding it was part of a plan set forth five years ago.

“We knew Bill wouldn’t be here for 20 years,” Byrd said.

Lachney was an assistant at Brother Martin and the head coach at Pope John Paul II.

“Expectations have been high since we got here,” Lachney said. “That’s what makes this a great job. I’m real excited and can’t wait to get started.”

In five seasons at Riverside, Stubbs led the Rebels to a record of 51-13 and four consecutive district championships. His career record over 19 years is 194-55.

“It’s been a great ride,” Stubbs said. “The state championship was great, but the memories I have of this team will stay with me forever. I’m sad because I won’t be with the kids every day, but I’m happy that I was able to be a part of giving those kids what they deserved.”

The Rebels were 12-1 this season and captured the school’s first state title since joining the LHSAA. Riverside won eight titles in the defunct Louisiana Independent Schools Association in the 1980s.

Stubbs led the Rebels to a runner-up finish last year, losing to Notre Dame 13-3 in the championship game.

This year the Rebels faced archrival St. Charles Catholic in the final and took a 47-20 victory.

“They capped this thing off for me like nobody’s business,” Stubbs said.

“I couldn’t have scripted this thing any better. My dad always said, ‘If you get a chance to go out a winner, you should go out a winner.’ I always tried to listen to my dad.”

Stubbs also brought with him former Pope John Paul II head coach, Lachney, who had once coached Stubbs’ son on the Northshore.

“Right after Katrina, when Salmen blew away, I had a son still in high school and I sent him over to Chris,” Stubbs said. “He is one of the most loyal human beings I’ve ever been around and he’s a masterful football coach.

“When I came to Riverside I said, I’ve got to bring him with me. That was the makings of our relationship together. It has just blossomed and grown. I’ve relied on him so much. I’m leaving them in good hands.”

Stubbs, 63, said he will spend time with his wife Christie and his four sons. He has two grandchildren and another on the way.