Lonny Arrington resumes role as Pacelli softball coach

Lonny Arrington keeps trying to retire, but Pacelli keeps pulling him back.

Arrington conducted his first practice for the 2015 edition of the Lady Vikings on Monday afternoon.

Teams could start playing games on Friday, and some local teams participated in the Jordan Invitational. But most teams will start their seasons this week.

This is Arrington's third go-around as the school's softball coach. The first took place from 1995 to 2006, during which time he won a state championship in 2002, the first by a team from Columbus.

He returned for the first time in 2010 but left in 2013. Then last spring athletic director Alan Griffin called him and asked him to return yet again.

"He may have seen something in me and he thought I could help," Arrington said. "I told him I would give him one more year. I am getting too old.

"He asked me to think about it, and I asked my wife is she was OK with me returning. It is a lot of hours."

Arrington, who graduated from Pacelli in 1965, has led the Lady Vikings to more than 300 wins, eight region championships and 12 state playoff appearances.

He retired from teaching at Pacelli in 2013 after 39 years.

"Coach Arrington is respected in the softball community and has a history of building winning teams. We are delighted to have him back," Griffin said when Arrington was re-hired in March.

Arrington said this being his last season is pretty well set.

"(My wife and I) are going to move to North Carolina (to be closer to his daughter)," Arrington said.

Pacelli struggled to a 3-14 record last season.

This story was originally published August 10, 2015 at 8:54 PM with the headline "Lonny Arrington resumes role as Pacelli softball coach ."