Lake Linden-Hubbell head coach Andy Crouch looks on during a game against Ishpeming on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Lake Linden, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

LAKE LINDEN — It’s the end of an era here.

Andy Crouch, longtime head football coach at Lake Linden-Hubbell, is done as head coach.

He’s actually been done a while. Crouch quietly notified LL-H athletic director Jack Kumpula in January that he was retiring.

“It’s 365. We gotta be there every day,” Crouch said. “That truly is one of the reasons why our players play so hard for us–we’re there every day. That’s why I don’t think I should be there. I don’t know if I want to be there in the middle of July for weight-lifting and football camps.”

No announcement was made of Crouch’s departure until Kumpula announced Monday night that one of Crouch’s former players, Brett Gervais, was named the next head coach of the Lakes.

Gervais, a 2011 LL-H graduate, was a Lakes standout before playing four stellar years at Michigan Tech as a defensive back. He was a Division II All-American. Gervais served the past three seasons as an assistant coach. Crouch said he’ll remain in the background of the football program this offseason to help Gervais settle in. Crouch also said one of the final factors in his decision to leave was the confidence he has in Gervais moving forward.

“That was one of the things that pushed me over the edge was he is going to be good,” Crouch said. “Our team is going to be really good next year in 8-man. I feel confident I’m leaving the program in good hands. We have some great kids coming up. They may win the whole damn thing next year.

“I’ve known Brett since he was born. He’s like another son to me. He’s a role model not only for my son, but every kid in town. He does everything the right way. He always has, he always will. He’s going to bring that youth and enthusiasm and that transition will be great.”

Crouch compiled a 118-58 record across 18 seasons as head coach of the Lakes.

Crouch led the team to 13 playoff appearances including seven straight in 2004-2010. The Lakes ran into tough luck in the playoffs, and Crouch didn’t win his first playoff game until beating North Dickinson 36-8 in the 2008 opener.

The tough luck the Lakes had run into through the 2000s was Forest Park’s dynastic run with seven regional titles and a state championship. The Trojans won eight district titles in the 2000s–four of which came against Crouch’s Lakes.

LL-H made the playoffs five straight seasons (2013-17) and six out of Crouch’s final seven seasons.

Crouch took over the program in 2002 after the 2001 season was forfeited. Crouch went 4-3 his first year at the helm and improved with an extra win each season until reaching the playoffs in 2004 after a 6-3 regular season.

The Lakes went 6-4 last season and lost 30-18 at West Iron County in the playoff opener. But Crouch had won his final home game at Warner Athletic Field, a 54-21 rout against Manistique. Crouch stood for some time at midfield after the win and took in the view.

After the season, Kumpula announced Lake Linden-Hubbell was moving to eight-player. Crouch said the eight-player decision had zero weight in his decision.

“It had zero. If we were 11-man, my decision would’ve been the same,” Crouch said. “I will say I don’t like the way 8-man has hurt football in Michigan. I knew it was going to come to Lake Linden either way. I’m behind Lake Linden going to 8-man 100 percent. We’ll get to play schools similar to our size for the first time in a long time. The 8-man decision really had nothing to do with it. It’s more of I need to recharge my batteries.”

Crouch said last season had taken a toll on him as his son, senior quarterback Carter Crouch, tore his ACL in a preseason scrimmage. Carter tried playing through it, but shut it down after a few games. He later signed to play football at Michigan Tech.

“This fall was just an absolute emotional roller coaster for me,” Crouch said. “The extra time is what’s killing me. If I can’t give 100 percent to my kids, I can’t demand 100 percent from them.”

Asked what Crouch will do now that he’s no longer the Lakes’ football coach, he said “Maybe get to Hurley and help Scottie (Erickson) out a little bit there. Spend some time at Kearly (Stadium). Probably drive my wife nuts, really.”