Andalusia officials were mum on who the new athletic director and basketball coach would be during a press conference on Tuesday for the announcement Richard Robertson’s retirement from the Andalusia City School system.

School officials didn’t address the situation directly, and Superintendent Ted Watson spoke only slightly on the hiring.

“We are going to have a hard time finding any one to remotely fill Coach Robertson’s shoes,” Watson said. “Coach Robertson has been the embodiment of everything Andalusia for many years now.”

Speculation going into the press conference was that they would be naming Robertson’s replacement as head boys’ basketball coach, as well as naming a new athletic director.

“Mr. Watson didn’t want to name anyone until they go in front of the board (of education),” AHS principal Dr. Daniel Shakespeare said.

The next board meeting is scheduled for Aug. 17.

During the press conference, with his wife Ethel by his side, Coach Robertson expressed his love for all things Andalusia and for a the great memories he has made while being a teacher and coach for the past 50 years.

“On May 8, 1965, after coming home from Alabama State University, I made a promise to my mother and grandmother that I would never leave again,” Robertson said. “At the time, I didn’t even have a job yet.”

Robertson also shared his most memorable moments as a coach.

“My first most memorable moment was when we played for the state championship for the very first time in 1989,” Robertson said. “After leading for most of the game, we ended up losing by two to Bibb County. We had a chance at the end of the game, but our point guard was knocked down trying to drive in the land but no foul was called. It should have been called, but that isn’t an excuse because he should have passed it out to our big man and if they knocked him down a foul probably would have been called. My next most memorable moment was winning the state championship in 1996 against B.C. Rain.”

Basketball seasons begins on Dec. 1.