Longtime Midlands high school baseball coach is retiring

After almost 40 years as a baseball coach in the state of South Carolina, Gray Collegiate’s Charles Assey Sr. is retiring.

The school announced the move on Friday morning. Assey has been at Gray since 2018 and led the War Eagles to a pair of Class 2A championship series appearances in 2021 and 2022.

The War Eagles made it to the Upper State semifinals this year before losing to Strom Thurmond.

“Gray Collegiate has been a huge part of my life the last six years,” Assey said in a statement. “The baseball program is one of the top teams in the state. This has been the most difficult decision to make in my life. To hang up my hat forever from something that has been my entire life dream is tough. Please know that I will always be appreciative of this opportunity to be a War Eagle.”

Health was a big factor the 68-year-old Assey in stepping away from coaching. He had open heart surgery eight weeks ago.

“It is time for me to change my focus to the final chapter of my life including four grandchildren,” Assey Sr. said. “After recently laying in a hospital bed for eight days, being eight weeks removed from open heart surgery and several lengthy conversations with my doctors, I have had time to reflect on things that I need to focus on while I still have my health. This is strictly a health and age decision.”

Gray principal Brian Newsome said the school will begin a search for Assey’s replacement and thanked him for his time at Gray. Assey wants to remain involved with the program, Newsome said.

At Gray, Assey Sr. went 128-43 and won five region championships in addition to two state title appearances. He finished with a career record of 550-273. His 500th win came in the 2023 season.

Assey Sr. won a state championship as head coach at Brookland-Cayce in 1998 and went 198-88 with the Bearcats from 1988-1999. He also coached at Orangeburg Prep, Mims Academy, Willington Academy, Heathwood Hall and won four SCISA state championships as coach. The 68-year-old helped out his son Charles Jr. at Cardinal Newman before taking the job at Gray.

Assey’s departure is third high profile coach to leave the school in the last few months. Boys basketball coach Dion Bethea, who led the War Eagles to six state championships, left to become an assistant in college at Georgia Southern. Former South Carolina standout Carlos Powell replaced Bethea.

Football coach Adam Holmes stepped down after season and was replaced by De’Angelo Bryant.