John Washington, long-time Minneapolis City Conference athletics director, will retire on Nov. 30.

Washington, who took the athletic director job in 1996, served in the same role at Patrick Henry from 1989 to 1996. Washington, 66, graduated from North in 1964. He was an all-city forward in basketball and also played baseball.

Retiring, he said, is a decision "he feels good about."

"Nothing made me do it at this time," Washington said. "My wife has been asking me if I was ready to retire but I wasn't mentally ready until recently. I think things are moving in a positive direction and it's time to let others run with it."

Washington's tenure as athletic director included the consolidation of boys' and girls' hockey teams and pursuing artificial turf for schools. Washburn is playing on turf this year. But many Minneapolis high school athletic facilities are lacking or nonexistent.

Washington said leaving during the school year was simply a matter of timing.

"You can do it anytime and there was not much of an advantage to wait any longer," he said.