After 41 seasons, the Frogs’ quarterbacks coach Dick Winder is hanging up his whistle. Head coach Gary Patterson announced Winder’s retirement Wednesday night at the Frog Club Recruiting Reception. Winder, 65, spent the last five seasons coaching quarterbacks like Tye Gunn, Brandon Hassell and most recently Poinsettia Bowl offensive MVP Jeff Ballard.

“I don’t think you replace a Dick Winder,” Patterson said. “He’s very unique.”

Winder said he had thought about it last year but he wanted to stay with Ballard and end on a winning note.

“It’s been a great experience with the kids,” Winder said.

Winder’s wife, Vicki, said there were so many fans who left positive messages on the Frogs’ sports message board, killerfrogs.com

“It was good to read all of what they said,” Vicki Winder said. “So many fans said good things, it did my heart good.”

Patterson said plans are in the works to try and keep Winder with the TCU football organization, but nothing is official.

“We’re excited to find a place where he can stay at TCU,” Patterson said.

During his 41 years of coaching, Winder coached 16 years in high school and 25 at the college level, according to gofrogs.com. Before coming to TCU in 2002, he was the receivers coach at Texas Tech University from 1998 to 1999 before coaching at Tarleton State in Stephenville.

Winder said he hopes to spend a lot of time with family, especially his two granddaughters.

“Everywhere he’s been, he’s a winner and has a great mind for the game,” Patterson said. “We’ve been appreciative of everything he’s done for the program.