Mike Coke is not coaching this fall’a major life adjustment for the 71-year-old who has been on the sidelines in a variety of sports at both Goodrich and Hamady schools for almost 50 years.
‘I just love coaching,? said Coke. ‘I like being around the kids and love the competition.?
His affection for coaching proved successful in netting a combined boys and girls sub varsity basketball record of 468-114’including nine undefeated seasons for girls coupled with one undefeated season for the boys.
Coke’s stellar record prompted an induction into the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Honor as an assistant coach.. The ceremony will be at 4 p.m., today, Oct. 3 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center, Ann Arbor. The BCAM Hall Honor was established in 1994 to honor those persons who have helped to improve basketball in Michigan. These honorees have been longtime supporters of their local teams or have given outstanding service to the game of basketball. Awards are given in four categories. To be eligible for the honor, a person must have been involved with basketball for at least 20 years.
A 1962 Montrose High School graduate, Coke attended Central Michigan University and earned a degree in 1966. That same year he started teaching math and physical education at Hamady High School. Coke was a teacher-coach for 41 years between Hamady and Goodrich, with 37 seasons at Goodrich. He retired from teaching in 2001, but continued coaching.
‘I kept coaching even after I had a heart attack,? he said. ‘I still enjoy it when I see kids improve at a sport. I was athletic director at Goodrich for eight years, but I really missed coaching so I went back. It’s amazing when a team gets a few wins the whole mood around the school just changes. Today there’s a lot more distractions for students such as the internet’there’s also more sports out there to chose from, too.?
Coach Coke’s resume includes from 1973-74 boys Hamady Middle School basketball coach; head coach boys freshman and JV basketball 1975-77 at Hamady High School; assistant coach girls varsity basketball 1988-89 at Goodrich High School; head coach boys JV boys basketball 1990, Goodrich High School; assistant coach boys varsity basketball 1991, Goodrich High School; head coach boys freshman basketball 1989-2000 at Goodrich High School; head coach for girls JV basketball 1990-94, 1996-1998, Goodrich High School; head coach girls varsity basketball 1995, Goodrich High School; head coach girls freshman basketball 1999-2006 at Goodrich High School; head coach boys middle school basketball from 2001-06, Goodrich Middle School; head coach girls middle school basketball 2002, 2007-2008, 2014, Goodrich Middle School; head track coach for combined 22 years with eight league championships and one regional championship at Hamady and Goodrich high schools; named track regional Coach of the Year in 1993 in Class C; coached football and cross country both at Hamady.
Mike and Mary Ann Coke have been married for 48 years. They have four children, Mickey (Tracy) Coke, Elizabeth (Brian) Haller, Angela (Ray) Herek & AnnMarie (Jason) Smith. They have 11 grandchildren.