After 24 years of coaching in the state of Alabama and 12 seasons at Troy University, assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Shayne Wasden retired after the conclusion of the Louisiana Lafayette game on Saturday.

“I am very appreciative for the opportunity to coach here and have coach (Larry) Blakeney hire me,” Wasden said. “The City of Troy welcomed us 12 years ago with open arms. It has been very rewarding and fun.”

During his coaching tenure at both the high school level and at Troy, Wasden said the most rewarding aspect of his job was being able to work with great players and great people.

“I have been very fortunate to be able to coach a bunch of good young men,” Wasden said. “I was able to be around some great coaches and the relationships I have been able to build and maintain through coaching really has been the special part of it.”

At Troy, Wasden has coached some exceptional players including Eric Thomas, the 2013 career leader in touchdown receptions for the Sun Belt Conference at 29, and kick returner Chandler Worthy, the fourth player in FBS history to return a kick return for a touchdown in back-to-back games. Each year for eight of the last nine years, at least one of Wasden’s special teams units has ranked in the top 25 nationally.

“Good players make great coaches,” Wasden said. “I have been very fortunate to coach some while I have been here … I have enjoyed the opportunity to coach guys that have gone on to play beyond here.”

Also during his tenure Wasden began the walk-on program, giving players the opportunity to try out for the program.

“Probably some of the most rewarding guys are the guys that have walked on here and overachieved,” Wasden said. “They have done things that nobody expected them to do. It’s been fun to be able to coach those guys.”

Wasden has also had the opportunity to learn and grow relationships with plenty of other coaches during his tenure.

“I still stay in touch with most of the guys that have come through here to coach,” Wasden said. “Those relationships that was forged coaching with those guys are things that last’s a lifetime.”

Before coaching at Troy, Wasden made stops at Eufaula High School as a head coach as well as Opp and Georgiana.