Whether as a teacher or a coach in the Goodrich school district, Fritz Wolff has always felt a need to ‘pay it forward.?
‘I believe you have to help others be successful,? said Wolff, who retired this summer as a teacher after 42 years in the Goodrich school district, most recently at Goodrich High School. ‘Others help you, so you need to help others.?
Although he is retired from teaching, Wolff will not completely disappear from the district, as he will continue to serve as an assistant varsity football coach under head coach Tom Alward.
Wolff is a member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, having been inducted in 1994. Two other Goodrich coaches, Jerry Hughes and Stu Cameron, are also in the MHSFCA Hall.
He and his wife, Lynda, both came to Goodrich to teach in the district. Lynda spent 36-1/2 years as an elementary school teacher in Goodrich.
At the time Wolff started teaching in 1963, the starting salary was $4,400, and coaches made about $200-300. ‘That was a good salary,? he said.
The current Goodrich High School building was not yet constructed when Wolff started in Goodrich. He taught a year in the old high school building (where Reid Elementary is today) before the current facility opened.
He taught general math at the middle school level and physical education at both the middle school and high school, then went on to teach what he said ‘is my forte for most of my teaching career? ? American history.
Wolff said it was important he taught ‘the human side of history ? not just facts.?
‘I incorporated that into whatever I taught,? said Wolff, who also taught geography, psychology, and sociology.
He also incorporated his teaching principles as a coach at Goodrich. Wolff has coached for 38 years in Goodrich, primarily in varsity football, including a stint as the Martians? head coach from 1981-83. He was also the head coach for the varsity boys basketball team, and has worked with the track team.
Wolff coached in Grand Blanc from 1985-88 and in Swartz Creek in 1989 before returning to the Goodrich sidelines.
‘I’ve enjoyed it ? it’s been a tremendous experience,? he said. ‘Coaching mirrors life in many ways, especially in football. You get an opportunity to teach ? coaching is teaching. There’s a lot of self-discipline involved. I think it’s necessary to teach kids to discipline themselves in athletics and in the classroom. That’s the key in life, period. I’ve incorporated that philosophy into teaching and coaching. You have to direct them to make the right choices.?
Wolff said teaching has definitely changed from the time he started.
‘I think now, with all the mandates from the federal and state government, it takes a lot of time away from actual teaching,? he said. ‘Teaching takes a lot of time and preparation if you’re going to be successful. You have to love what you’re doing. I love coaching and working with young people, teaching in the classroom.?
In Wolff’s opinion, the current Goodrich school board and administration does not value the long hours and work the Goodrich teachers put into their jobs, citing the layoff of several teachers in the district earlier this year (although they have since been offered their jobs back after several teachers, including Wolff, took early retirement incentives).
‘I believe the way things have gone in the past months, there have been too many negatives, most of them created by the school board and administration,? he said. ‘They do not give teachers enough credit for what they do.?
Wolff also said the board and administration ‘picked out the teachers to bear the brunt of a crisis related to dollars and cents.?
Despite what Wolff said was a ‘bittersweet? last year as a teacher in Goodrich, he said the community ‘overall has been very good,? and emphasized he retired on his own and was not forced out.
Wolff said there have been plenty of people who have guided him throughout his teaching and coaching career. Specifically, he mentioned Joyce and Jerry Hughes, Bob and Donna McNally, Patty Newton, Joan Turner, and Bill and Joan Kelly. He also said plenty of colleagues have helped him out ? ‘too many to mention.?
Now that he is retired from teaching, Wolff said he plans to golf a little more as well as ‘enjoy my grandchildren and enjoy life.?
Overall, Wolff said he is satisfied and proud of what he accomplished during his teaching career.
‘I have no complaints,? he said.