(KCKCC Sports Information) - The winningest coach in Kansas City Kansas Community College history is stepping down.

Steve Burleson will end a 36-year career as head baseball mentor with his retirement Friday, July 31. Only the second coach in the Jayhawk East Conference to win 1,000 games, Burleson will retire with a record of 1,136 wins, 697 losses and a .614 winning percentage.

"I'm proud that I was involved in that many college games," said Burleson, who will turn 65 next April.

Burleson was the first active coach inducted into the KCKCC Sports Hall of Fame in 2012 and KCKCC Athletic Director Tony Tompkins expects more honors to come. "I have no doubt he will be in the NJCAA Hall of Fame in the future," said Tompkins. "It is very impressive to have a head coach stay at one institution and be so successful for more than 35 years. Coach Burleson has built and maintained a strong baseball program both academically and athletically and we will do our best to continue to build upon the foundation he has built and wish him the best in all of his future endeavors."

Other than his continued support of the Blue Devil baseball program, Burleson said he has no immediate plans. "Honestly, I have not thought about it," he said. "I've always felt I needed to put all my energy into what I was doing at that time. I do know I want to spend more time with my grandson and there's another grandchild coming in December and I'm looking forward to that."

For more information on Coach Burleson, click here : Coach Burleson Retires