TALLAHASSEE -- Flanked by his players and assistant coaches, an emotional Mickey Andrews explained Tuesday night why his 26th season as Florida State's defensive coordinator will be his last.

``As much as I love Florida State and love these guys back here, time has just gotten so important for me now,'' Andrews said in announcing his retirement, effective at the end of this season. ``I can't coach football and do what I need to do with the [family] responsibilities that I've got now. It's gonna be hard on us. But it's time. It's just time for it to happen.''

Andrews, 68, was the architect of defenses that powered Florida State to 14 consecutive top-five finishes in the Associated Press poll (1987-2000), and head coach Bobby Bowden has said he deserves much credit for the Seminoles' national championships in 1993 and '99.

Under Andrews, Florida State led the nation in pass defense in 1998, and the Seminoles were No. 1 against the run in 1996 and 1997.

HIS MIND MADE UP

Bowden said he initially hoped Andrews would return for the 2010 season, which likely will be Bowden's final campaign, but he said he understood the decision.

``Mickey came by to see me yesterday and told me he definitely had made up his mind that this would be his last year,'' Bowden said. ``Of course, I told him I wish he would stay. But he feels like he needs to be with his family. I'll miss him. He's been here 25 or 26 years, and I think all of the success we've had since he's been here -- a lot of it . . . maybe most of it -- is because of the job he's done.''

Among Andrews' many accomplishments, he was the first recipient of the Frank Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach in 1996. He also produced 18 first-round NFL picks, including three in 1995 and four in 2006.

But Andrews has struggled through personal tragedy and professional disappointments in recent years.

His only son, Ronnie, died unexpectedly two years ago, and FSU's current defense likely will go down as the worst of his career. The Seminoles are ranked last among Atlantic Coast Conference teams in rushing defense and passing defense.

But those problems have done nothing to diminish Andrews' relationship with his players. When he left FSU's practice fields and approached a waiting throng of media Tuesday, Andrews needed several seconds to choke back tears when he realized his players and assistants were standing behind him.

``I don't know how anybody could be more fortunate than to have a job like I do,'' Andrews said. ``With the coaches that I work with and these guys back here, I fuss at them a lot of times and say things I ought not to say, but they know I love them. And I just want the best for them.''

OFF THE FIELD

Andrews played at Alabama under Paul ``Bear'' Bryant and was a member of two national championship teams (1961 and 1964). Known as a taskmaster at practice and an aggressive play-caller in games, Andrews' sideline rants are legendary.

But the Seminoles' players say what makes Andrews special is that he always comes back later with encouraging words and a hug or pat on the back.

``The thing about it is, a lot of people don't know,'' junior linebacker Kendall Smith said. ``They see Coach Andrews over there yelling, but all he wants is for us to be good. He wants us to be the best football player we can be. He doesn't want anything else.''

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