DUNLAP – The true dean of football coaches in the Northern Lakes Conference has decided to hang up his whistle.

Longtime and highly successful Concord football coach Tim Dawson has decided to retire from coaching, according to an email from the school Monday.

Dawson, the Concord football coach for the past 26 years, is scheduled to meet with the media on Tuesday morning to discuss his decision.

Dawson guided the Minutemen to eight NLC championships, six sectional titles and four regional crowns during his outstanding run. He was 183-112 at Concord with two State Finals appearances too.

Dawson, who served as the Indiana North All-Star coach last summer, was honored as the NLC Coach of the Year seven times.

The Minutemen went 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the NLC this past season.