Chester finds replacement for Floyd in Flowers

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Chester High School began a new era in football onTuesday with the announcement that Maurice Flowers has been hiredto replace coach Victor Floyd.

Flowers, who coached at West Charlotte last season, has some bigshoes to fill. Floyd is leaving to coach at Brunswick (Ga.) Highafter leading the Cyclones through the most successful run inChester history. The Cyclones won the Region 3-AAA title and madeit to the state championship game last season, where they fell14-12 to Wilson.

Chester was 12-3 in 2007, the most wins in school history, and27-21 overall in Floyd's four seasons. After a 2-9 start his firstseason, Chester had three straight winning seasons for the firsttime, and the trip to the state championship was the first in 44years.

Flowers, 38, also has an impressive resume. This past season, hisfirst at West Charlotte, Flowers led his team to a 13-2 record andthe North Carolina state 4A semifinals.

But the team had to forfeit its wins, had to return $16,000 inticket sales and was fined $250 for playing an ineligible playerwho had obtained a false address. The player had formerly playedfor Flowers at Olympic High School.

Flowers and assistant coach Hazel Richardson resigned after theviolation was found. Charlotte-Mecklenburg school officials did notreveal why they quit, citing the confidentiality of personnelinformation.

The rules violation was discovered by The Charlotte Observer in aninvestigative series it conducted on player eligibility in thecity.

Flowers was suspended with pay for a year and decided to resignafter the suspension. He held off so he could help his players getthrough National Signing Day. Nine players signed scholarships thatday, three later.

"I'm not bitter,'' Flowers said. "I'm a spiritual person and thinkeverything happens for a reason. The thing I'm guilty of inCharlotte is I'm a coach young men want to play for.

"I run an exciting offense and defense. I work my tail off to makemy kids better players and young men. What happened in Charlottewas players from all over the city wanted to play for me.Unfortunately, one of them was not eligible to play at WestCharlotte.''

Flowers runs a wide-open, spread, no-huddle offense. Hisquarterback at West Charlotte led the state with more than 4,500passing yards and 56 touchdowns.

Ricky Campbell, Chester's athletics director, said Flowers was upfront about the Charlotte situation and answered all questionsposed by the school's interview committee. Campbell said Flowersdidn't shy away or try to cover up what happened and was broughtback for a second round of questions concerning the situation andto tell him what was expected at Chester.

"We saw a person that was similar to coach Floyd, who highlyrecommended coach Flowers,'' Campbell said. "We checked him outthoroughly before bringing him in for his interview. He impressedour committee and we saw that he cares about kids, is very high onacademics, and like coach Floyd, has a track record of getting hisplayers into college.

"Everybody deserves a second chance, and he wants to be here. Hehas implemented things at other schools like coach Floyd did here;study halls for the players, grade checks and rules regardingdiscipline. Things that happened at West Charlotte are not aconcern. It won't happen here because it's not a city school andI'm in charge of eligibility here.''

Flowers grew up in South Bend, Ind. His family moved to Charlottewhen he was starting the ninth grade. Flowers played quarterback atEast Mecklenburg and was all-conference in football and basketball.

He attended Johnson C. Smith on a football scholarship.

Flowers was an assistant coach in Texas before becoming coach atCharlotte's Olympic High, where he spent six seasons before movingto West Charlotte.

Flowers and Floyd met in 2002 at a coaches' conference in Texas.They became quick friends and began competing in 7-on-7 summerpassing competitions. He sought the job after getting a call fromFloyd telling him it was open.

Flowers said he will build on what Floyd did.

"I feel privileged to have this opportunity,'' Flowers said. "I hadother offers, but Chester is the right fit because I'm taking overa program that's been done the right way the last four years.

"I'm glad the folks at Chester did their homework and dideverything they did to find out more about me. When you come to asmall community, there is always a question about character.Coaches across the country know me and know my character. I have along history of that.''

Flowers added that Chester is the right fit because it's a programon the rise and that he's replacing a good friend.

"Coach Floyd called and said he had the perfect job for me,''Flowers said. "I never thought he was going to say Chester becausehe has turned down several good offers and was happy there.

"And moving was not an option for our family because we are strongin our church in Charlotte. My wife, Tonya, and I lead the youthministry in our church, called The Huddle, for males 8-and-up. Ifeel I had a good job in Charlotte, but that I'm getting a greatopportunity at Chester High School.''

Flowers is already on the job and the Cyclones begins springpractice today.