CHESTER -- Chester High School began a new era in football on Tuesday with the announcement that Maurice Flowers has been hired to replace coach Victor Floyd.

Flowers, who coached at West Charlotte last season, has some big shoes to fill. Floyd is leaving to coach at Brunswick (Ga.) High after leading the Cyclones through the most successful run in Chester history. The Cyclones won the Region 3-AAA title and made it to the state championship game last season, where they fell 14-12 to Wilson.

Chester was 12-3 in 2007, the most wins in school history, and 27-21 overall in Floyd's four seasons. After a 2-9 start his first season, Chester had three straight winning seasons for the first time, and the trip to the state championship was the first in 44 years.

Flowers, 38, also has an impressive resume. This past season, his first at West Charlotte, Flowers led his team to a 13-2 record and the North Carolina state 4A semifinals.

But the team had to forfeit its wins, had to return $16,000 in ticket sales and was fined $250 for playing an ineligible player who had obtained a false address. The player had formerly played for Flowers at Olympic High School.

Flowers and assistant coach Hazel Richardson resigned after the violation was found. Charlotte-Mecklenburg school officials did not reveal why they quit, citing the confidentiality of personnel information.

The rules violation was discovered by The Charlotte Observer in an investigative series it conducted on player eligibility in the city.

Flowers was suspended with pay for a year and decided to resign after the suspension. He held off so he could help his players get through National Signing Day. Nine players signed scholarships that day, three later.

"I'm not bitter,'' Flowers said. "I'm a spiritual person and think everything happens for a reason. The thing I'm guilty of in Charlotte is I'm a coach young men want to play for.

"I run an exciting offense and defense. I work my tail off to make my kids better players and young men. What happened in Charlotte was players from all over the city wanted to play for me. Unfortunately, one of them was not eligible to play at West Charlotte.''

Flowers runs a wide-open, spread, no-huddle offense. His quarterback at West Charlotte led the state with more than 4,500 passing yards and 56 touchdowns.

Ricky Campbell, Chester's athletics director, said Flowers was up front about the Charlotte situation and answered all questions posed by the school's interview committee. Campbell said Flowers didn't shy away or try to cover up what happened and was brought back for a second round of questions concerning the situation and to tell him what was expected at Chester.

"We saw a person that was similar to coach Floyd, who highly recommended coach Flowers,'' Campbell said. "We checked him out thoroughly before bringing him in for his interview. He impressed our committee and we saw that he cares about kids, is very high on academics, and like coach Floyd, has a track record of getting his players into college.

"Everybody deserves a second chance, and he wants to be here. He has implemented things at other schools like coach Floyd did here; study halls for the players, grade checks and rules regarding discipline. Things that happened at West Charlotte are not a concern. It won't happen here because it's not a city school and I'm in charge of eligibility here.''

Flowers grew up in South Bend, Ind. His family moved to Charlotte when he was starting the ninth grade. Flowers played quarterback at East Mecklenburg and was all-conference in football and basketball.

He attended Johnson C. Smith on a football scholarship.

Flowers was an assistant coach in Texas before becoming coach at Charlotte's Olympic High, where he spent six seasons before moving to West Charlotte.

Flowers and Floyd met in 2002 at a coaches' conference in Texas. They became quick friends and began competing in 7-on-7 summer passing competitions. He sought the job after getting a call from Floyd telling him it was open.

Flowers said he will build on what Floyd did.

"I feel privileged to have this opportunity,'' Flowers said. "I had other offers, but Chester is the right fit because I'm taking over a program that's been done the right way the last four years.

"I'm glad the folks at Chester did their homework and did everything they did to find out more about me. When you come to a small community, there is always a question about character. Coaches across the country know me and know my character. I have a long history of that.''

Flowers added that Chester is the right fit because it's a program on the rise and that he's replacing a good friend.

"Coach Floyd called and said he had the perfect job for me,'' Flowers said. "I never thought he was going to say Chester because he has turned down several good offers and was happy there.

"And moving was not an option for our family because we are strong in our church in Charlotte. My wife, Tonya, and I lead the youth ministry in our church, called The Huddle, for males 8-and-up. I feel I had a good job in Charlotte, but that I'm getting a great opportunity at Chester High School.''

Flowers is already on the job and the Cyclones begins spring practice today.