By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Legendary Silver Lake coach CJ Hamilton has announced his retirement as a teacher and the Eagles' head football coach, ending a 47-year career as the winningest coach in Kansas high school football history.
C.J. Hamilton
Hamilton's retirement was announcted in a statement by the Silver Lake school district on Monday.
Hamilton started his coaching career in 1973, spent the 1977-78 seasons at Washburn University and returned to his alma mater in 1979.
Hamilton is continuing to recover from a leg injury that occurred during a farming accident two years ago and an injury that hampered his ability to fully engage in the Eagles' football program during the 2021 season.
“Coach Hamilton has impacted the lives of countless students and athletes over his tenure at Silver Lake,” Silver Lake superintendent Brad Womack said in Monday's statement. “He embodies everything it means to be a Silver Lake Eagle and the commitment he has made to our district and our community will be felt for generations to come.
:To say we are thankful for the time, effort and love coach Hamilton has given to our students and our community, doesn’t even begin to express the gratitude we have for him.”
Hamilton finishes his career at Silver Lake as the all-time winningest coach in school and state history with a 447-98 record.
Under Hamilton’s leadership, the Silver Lake football program has played for the state title 18 times, winning eight of those games.
The Eagles have played in the post season 40 of his 47 years and won the Mid-East League championship 39 times.
During his tenure, Hamilton also served as the baseball coach, first-ever softball coach in 1989 and the assistant coach to many different sports.
In addition to the many accomplishments on the field, Coach Hamilton also received the Coach Bill Snyder Family/Sunflower Chapter of the National Football Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award this past summer.
Hamilton is a member of the Topeka Shawnee County Sports Hall of Fame.
