Air Force’s Chris Gobrecht announces retirement after 44 years of coaching in women’s college basketball | Sports Coverage [Video]

For a near-continuous run since 1979, Chris Gobrecht has stood as a fixture in women’s college basketball.

That run ended Monday as Gobrecht announced her retirement, finishing her career with a transformative nine-year stint at Air Force that leaves her as the program’s all-time winningest coach.

“Sooner or later I knew I’d have to rip the Band-Aid off,” Gobrecht told The Gazette in an exclusive conversation following her announcement.

“It just seemed like a good time.”

Gobrecht nearly talked herself into staying for another year, based on the quality of the team the Falcons will field next year that will feature four returning starters and what she anticipates will be yet another difference-making freshman class. And the team two years from now she thinks will top that one, based on the players headed to the prep school next year.