Seymour football coach Richey resigns: Wants to make lifestyle change to spend more time with family, will finish out season

Jeff Richey has spent countless hours around Bulleit Stadium and Seymour High School preparing the next weight room workouts, setting up the elementary schedule, planning the next practice or watching film of an upcoming opponent.

But he recently decided it was time to make a change in his professional and family lifestyle. Last week, Richey resigned as head coach of the football team after working with the Seymour program for 34 years.

“We’ve invested a lot of time and effort in this program,” he said. “I think it’s time for a different voice. It’s time for somebody who’s got more energy and years left than I have. I just want to be a grandpa.”

Of deciding to announce his resignation last week instead of waiting until the end of the season, Richey said, “I kind of thought that we’d win some games at the end, and I would start feeling good about things again. I didn’t want to do that.

“The honest truth is, for 35 years — 34 years in Seymour — my family has taken a back seat with all the things that have gone on with Seymour football in particular,” he said. “I’ve been a great dad, husband, grandfather, probably a great son, and it’s just time for me to become a better family member.”

Richey said he made the decision about three weeks ago when he went to visit his mother, Wilma Richey, at Frankfort.

“We knew she wasn’t doing very well,” he said. “When I walked in, she said, ‘I’m glad you came to see me.’ I said I could only stay about an hour and that I had to get back to Seymour for a staff meeting. When I walked out the door, I went, ‘This is not how it should be.’”

On Oct. 8, Wilma Richey passed away.

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