NAPPANEE – Longtime NorthWood High School girls basketball coach Steve Neff has made it official.

Neff, the coach of the Panthers for the last 36 seasons, will retire following the 2013-14 season.

Neff, who retired as a teacher in February, is tied for the most coaching wins in state history on the girls’ side. He is 634-175 in his 36 years at NorthWood. Donna Cheatham of Scottsburg is 634-203 in 38 seasons.

Neff’s program has won 23 sectional championships, including one this past season. NorthWood won the Class 3-A state championship in 1999.

NorthWood is currently in the process of interviewing candidates to be a coach in waiting. That person, who is expected to be hired by the end of this school year, would serve on Neff’s coaching staff next season and then take over when he steps down at season’s end.