Scott Mahmens plans to retire as the athletic director at Linn-Mar High School at the end of the 2015-16 school year, he told the Metro Sports Report Thursday afternoon.
"Yes, I have made the decision to retire at the end of this school year," he said in an e-mail. "My last day on the job will be June 29.
"I have been in the education field for 32 years and just feel like it is time for me to make this difficult decision."
Mahmens has been the director for one of the most successful athletic departments in Iowa. He came to Linn-Mar from Clinton High School in 2005 and has overseen a program that consistently ranks near the top in prep sports for boys and girls.
The Linn-Mar school district has built some of the most impressive athletic facilities in the state during Mahmens' term, including a new football stadium and track, a new aquatics center and a new baseball/softball complex.
In recent months, Mahmens has been accused by a group of unhappy Linn-Mar parents with not providing proper oversight of the Linn-Mar football and weightlifting programs. The parents have taken their complaints to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, which is currently looking into the allegations and deciding whether to launch an official investigation or not.
Mahmens told the Metro Sports Report in an off-the-record conversation in January of 2015 that he might take early retirement following the 2015-16 school year, well before most of the accusations by the Linn-Mar parents were filed and became public.
Mahmens did not refer to the current situation with the football program in his e-mail to the Metro Sports Report and previously has said he will not comment on the matter.
Like most high school athletic directors, Mahmens has worked long hours and long days on a regular basis.
"As I said, this was not an easy decision for me to make but I truly believe it is time for me to do what is best for me and my family," he remarked. "The 12 to 14 hour days have caught up with me. Both of my sons are out of college now and I want to start doing the things I enjoy with my wife and sons.
"I have truly enjoyed working with all of the MVC athletic directors, Linn-Mar coaches and student-athletes during my time here at Linn-Mar."
Mahmens also has been serving as an associate principal at Linn-Mar High School.
Mahmens completed his undergraduate studies at Cornell College. He received a master's degree in athletic administration and physical education from Northwest Missouri State University and received his administration degree from the University of Iowa.
Tonya Moe is the associate athletic director at Linn-Mar.
Mahmens will become the third athletic director at a Metro high school to retire at the end of this school year, joining Paul James at Washington and Mike Winker at Xavier.
