Jim Manion is retiring as Lutheran North’s football coach. 

Manion, who turns 65 in April, was Lutheran North’s head coach from 1970-72 and Parkway South’s head coach from 1976-82 and returned to become the Crusaders head coach in 1998.

“When I took it, I thought it would be for a year or two and it’s turned into 10,” Manion said of his return to Lutheran North. 

Manion’s coaching career included two stints as an assistant in the Parkway district, including at Parkway West from 1983-94. He started the football program at Parkway South in 1976. 

He leaves Lutheran North after a special run with the Crusaders. 

“We’ve had good coaches, good players, good people and because of all that we’ve had a pretty good run,” Manion said. “We were in the playoffs nine out of 10 years. I think we were 90-29 in that period. Won it once. I think three other times we were in the semifinals. It’s been better than you normally get to have.”