PINETOPS— One of North Carolina’s very successful high school football coaches is stepping down, according to reports in the Tarboro Daily Southerner.

Raymond Cobb, whose career coaching football began in 1981, is retiring. Cobb finished his career, which included 33 years as a teacher, with a stellar record of 253-79, with 32 of those victories at his most current stop at SouthWest Edgecombe, where he took over in 2004.

For many years, Cobb guided North Edgecombe, taking over as the varsity head football coach in 1988 after coaching junior varsity and serving as a varsity assistant for several years. North Edgecombe became one of the most well respected programs in the state.

During his career Raymond guided teams to two North Carolina High School Athletic Association state championships, winning it all in 1994 and 1997, and played in four state title games.