By MARK MOLINA
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — After nearly three decades of coaching football, Harlingen South head coach and athletic coordinator Lanny Wilson is calling it a career.
Wilson announced Friday that he will be retiring this August after 29 years on the sidelines.
For Wilson, his decision to retire ultimately came down to his children.
“I’ve had enough years to retire, but what I really want to do right now is spend more time with my kids,” Wilson said. “(Harlingen CISD) is a special place. In my four years there has been great support from community, administration, school board and the student athletes. Harlingen is a really great place to live and go to school — I just can’t say enough good things about Harlingen.”
Wilson, however, did go on to say that coaching in the future is not completely out of the question.
In four years at South, however, Wilson has left a lasting impression.
“I just want to thank Coach Wilson for his leadership and commitment to the Harlingen South Athletic program,” said HCISD Athletic Director Randy Cretors. “He is a terrific football coach and a man of character. He taught our student-athletes a lot more than just football. He taught them about life and doing the right thing. That’s very important to all of us — we’re going to miss him.”
Wilson will stay on as the football coach and athletic coordinator until his contract ends on Aug. 31 of this year, but made the announcement early so that the school district can begin their search for his successor.
Cretors said that the school district hopes to begin the hiring process as soon as this week and is aiming to have a candidate by March or April.
Overall, Wilson is 66-55 as a head coach. He spent 2000-2010 at Round Rock High School where his record was 41-37.
In his four years at South (2012-2016) , he went 25-18 and guided the Hawks to playoff wins in 2012 and 2013, including a share of the then District 32-5A championship in 2012.
The last two seasons, the Hawks were a combined 6-13 and missed the playoffs both seasons.