With three kids between the ages of 5 and 10, Michael Davidson was finding it increasingly difficult to balance being a dad and husband with being the Marian football coach.

On Wednesday, he gave up his duties as the Marian football coach to spend more time with his family.

Davidson had an incredible run coaching his alma mater. He led the Knights to four NIC championships, three sectional championships and three regional championships in his eight seasons as head coach.

“I consider this to be a dream job and I’m forever grateful to live out my dream,” Davidson said. “To all the players, coaches and families that I’ve had the honor and privilege of being a part of their lives the last 20 years—and they’ve been a huge part of mine—I can’t thank everyone enough. I know Marian football is bigger than just me and I’m excited to see where Marian football goes moving forward.”

Davidson played under Reggie Glon at Marian and then coached under him for eight seasons before taking over as head coach.

“Coach Glon showed me what it meant to be a coach and the lasting impact it can make on young men and fueled a fire for me as a player,” Davidson said. “After inspiring me to get into coaching, he showed me the ropes of how to do it the only way, the right way. Finally, the unselfish man that he is, he stepped away to give me the opportunity to succeed him and fulfill my dream. I can only hope I’ve provided a fraction of the same love, inspiration, and guidance to the young men I’ve coached over the course of my career.”

Davidson took over for Glon as head coach in 2018. He says the run the program had from 2015-2021 was something that was incredible to be a part of. Marian won 7 straight sectional titles in that span, including regional championships in 2015, 2019, 2020 and 2021. Outside of Marian’s state title run in the 70s, it was the most successful period in Marian football history.

“As much as anything though I remember the guys,” Davidson recalls. “To go to the Redeemer Radio days and seeing the Michael Schnippels and Michael Schafers of the world doing stuff behind me in video interviews, those are the lasting memories. The locker room speeches and talks and development of all those players—that’s the best part of it.”

Davidson was the NIC Coach of the Year in both 2019 and 2020. He was 58-39 in his eight seasons. The Knights were 4-8 this past season, losing to Knox in the sectional title game.

“Coach Davidson has been an integral part of our athletic program,” Marian Athletic Director Steve Ravotto said in a statement. “He has had a positive impact on our student athletes by developing them into leaders on and off the field. He is a Marian alumnus and very invested in Marian’s mission of learn, serve, lead.”

“Finding a new coach will be challenging with the void that Coach Davidson leaves. We will be leaning on Mike for his guidance as the search for a new coach begins. On behalf of Marian High School, I would like thank Coach Davidson for all the time and effort he put into the football program.”

Davidson will stay on as a guidance counselor at Marian. When the school day ends, family time takes over. You may spot him at the Ice Box with his boys playing a lot of hockey these days.

“I’m leaving to be with my family—to be a husband and father,” Davidson said. “To be able to care of that calling, I have to give up this calling.”