Mar 11, 2025
NEW ULM — Craig Morgan, who has been the head boys basketball coach at Minnesota Valley Lutheran for the past 26 seasons, is stepping down from that position.
“It is just time,” said Morgan, who compiled a 473-224 record which included nine Tomahawk Conference championships, four subsection titles and six Mankato Bethany College Holiday Basketball championships.
“I have done it for a long time and to do this at the level that the kids deserve — I just do not have the energy to do it.”
Morgan will still be the Athletic Director and head boys and girls golf coach for the Chargers.
Morgan, who was named Section Coach of the Year three times and the Minnesota Timberwolves AA Section Coach of the Year, has been coaching for a total of 43 years as coach of the JV girls and freshman boys team and coached 13 seasons at Bloomington Lutheran School.
“I love being around the guys and that is what I am going to miss the most,” he said. “And I am going to miss the other coaches and officials and interacting with the parents — I am going to miss all of that. But I am still going to be around — I am still going to come to the games and be active. But now I do not have to go to practices every day and now I will be able to enjoy the games.”
Morgan said stepping down as head coach after this season was something that he had on his mind during this season and even prior.
“It was something that I had thought about at the end of last year,” he said. “But I thought that I am going to give it one more year in the new building, [I] want to coach in the new building, and it was awesome. When the games were close, it was loud and exciting. The kids giving it their all — it made the year.”
He said that his favorite memory was when his team defeated Mankato Loyola in the Bethany Tournament in double overtime the year that the Crusaders won the state championship.
“They had Brett Brielmaier (now an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic) who went on to play in the NBA — that was a memory for me.”
Morgan said that he has coached a lot of players who he will have special memories about.
“They all have special part in my heart — it was all about the team than any single accomplishment.”
Morgan said that come the start of next basketball season, he may feel a void.
“But I can still go in and watch practice for a little bit,” he said. “But I will miss it. I can’t kid myself, I am going to miss being with the kids.”
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