Scooter Molander, who led Phoenix Brophy Prep to state football championships in two of his first three seasons, has stepped down as head coach.

The school announced it late Monday afternoon after he met with the players in the school’s chapel.

Molander, who was head coach at Brophy the past 13 seasons, was coming off a one-win season.

His parents have been ailing, making this season very difficult.

He did not immediately return messages from azcentral sports, but in a school release he said, “You can’t delegate being a son and a father.”

The release said that Molander will focus on caring for his parents but will continue to teach social studies and physical education at the school.

Brophy reached the state finals three times and the semifinals five times in Molander’s tenure, the most impressive stretch of any coach in the school’s history. The Broncos made the state tournament each of his first 12 seasons. This was the only season Brophy didn’t make the big-school (6A) division playoffs.

He has had 41 of his players go on to play Division I college football.

“Brophy has been part of my family for 17 years and that won’t change,” Molander said in the release. “I look forward to continuing to serve this school in other capacities.”

Athletic Director Bill Woods responded to azcentral sports in an email, saying, “I am still in shock.”

Principal Bob Ryan shared what he wrote to the football parents:

Although it is hard for me to imagine Brophy football without Coach Molander at the helm, I fully support his decision to prioritize the needs of his family.  For thirteen years, Coach Molander has provided outstanding leadership to the Brophy football community but more importantly he has modeled for his players what it means to be a dedicated husband and father.  Now, more than ever, he is teaching them important life lessons as he steps away from the sport he loves to care for his family.  Mr. Molander will remain a member of our faculty teaching in the Social Studies and Physical Education Departments.