Reports: Nation's winningest high school football coach John McKissick to retire

Video: Legendary coach John McKissick wins 600th game
Summerville (S.C.) football coach expected to announce retirement.

Numerous reports indicate that a true legend of high school sports will announce his retirement, perhaps this week.

According to several reports John McKissick, the nation's winningest football coach, will step down after 621 wins and a staggering 63 seasons at Summerville (S.C.). He is 88 years old.

McKissick (621-156-13 overall) told a television station and the Charleston Post & Courier that the 10-time state championship coach is finalizing plans to retire and could announce a press conference as early as this week.



If so, there would be quite a celebration, considering he was inducted into the National High School Sports Hall of Fame — a quarter century ago.

He won his 600th game on Oct. 26, 2012 and he told MaxPreps then:

It feels good to win and if totals up to 600, that's great. I am real proud of the way our team played tonight and I am happy for my players. I have had enough recognition already for myself so I am glad to see them play well on such a big stage. … Our community and school administration is real supportive of athletics at Summerville and I am just proud to have been part of the program all these years. Football is such a great American game and teaches young people so much about life in general.

Summerville went 8-5 last season and reached the state Class 4A quarterfinals. If McKissick does retire, the winningest active coach — and No. 2 all-time overall — would be John T. Curtis, of Curtis (River Ridge, La.), who is 542-58-6.

McKissick told MaxPreps in 2012 that he's been adaptive over the years:

I'm a little more mellow now. I've changed with the times, but I never have changed discipline. I still don't have long hair and earrings. I get calls all the time. The judge always rules in favor of the coach, because athletics are not a must. They are a privilege. I've had kids transfer because of long dreadlocks. I think all kids want discipline. It's up to us to provide it for them. Some don't get it at home.