After 32 years on the field, Newberry High School head football coach Sam Baird announced his retirement yesterday.

The Clover native and Newberry College graduate came to Newberry High in 1978, becoming the Bulldog's head football coach in 1989.

During his 21 years as head coach, the Bulldogs won 161 games while losing 88.

Newberry had undefeated regular seasons in both 1993 and 2001.

Eight of Baird's teams won region championships (1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006) and 16 of his teams made the playoffs including the 1998 and 2001 teams as they played for the AAA Lower State championship while the 2006 team won the AA Upper State championship.

Baird was an assistant coach on the 2000 North/South All-Star Game while he was a South Carolina assistant coach in the 2006 Shrine Bowl game.

And on the diamond, Baird was also an assistant coach on the 1980 Newberry High School AAA state championship baseball team.