John Leaney, who led Macalester to victory in the Division III Women’s Soccer Championship in 1998 and has won more than 500 games coaching both men and women, will retire at the end of this season.

Leaney, who came to the school in 1986, was coaching both Macalester’s men’s and women’s teams when the women reached the championship final for two straight years, returning to finish as runner-up in 1999.

He gave up duties as men’s coach in 2006 following the death of his wife, Carrie, from cancer. Now, he wants to devote more time to raising his young son, though he plans to assist at the school part-time in a recruiting capacity.

“Raising a 4-year-old requires a great deal of energy, as does coaching a college team full time. Right now, my son is the most important thing in my life and he deserves my undivided attention,” he said.

“However sad I feel about the decision, I know it is the right one and I look forward to T-ball, soccer, golf and basketball with somebody with a much shorter attention span. I hope it brings the same level of enjoyment I have had over the last 25 years coaching.”

Macalester’s 1998 championship team gave up only one goal – in a four-overtime quarterfinal match that ultimately was decided by penalty kicks – during its four-game march to the title. It defeated The College of New Jersey in the final, 1-0.

Leaney has guided men’s and women’s teams to a total of 22 Division III championship appearances and 17 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles.

He currently has 320 victories in women’s soccer, including three seasons at UC San Diego before moving to Macalester, ranking him among the top 15 coaches in victories in any NCAA division. He also won 242 games as a men’s coach.

“John has made enormous contributions to both the men’s and the women’s soccer programs, the department and the college,” said Kim Chandler, Macalester director of athletics.

“His legacy as a national champion will continue to resonate as one of the institution’s greatest moments in athletics history, but undoubtedly, John's greatest work has been his mentoring and teaching to so many Macalester student-athletes. The college and the department are grateful for his contributions and we look forward to the celebration of his induction into the hall of fame and to his continued work within the athletics department.”

Leaney will be inducted into the Macalester M Club Athletics Hall of Fame later this month.