Last week was monumental for Clarkston High varsity basketball coach Dan Fife.
It was the last time Clarkston would play Pontiac Central, as the school merges with Pontiac Northern at the beginning of the next school year, and Fife reached a milestone of 500 wins.
Hitting the milestone means much more than winning for Fife.
“It’s not about Dan Fife and it’s not about 500 wins. It’s their (players?) legacy that they’re leaving,? said Fife. ‘All these players before that created the 500 wins and who they became as adults really becomes a significant part of 500.?
For the Wolves? coaching staff and players it was an opportunity to celebrate and give back to a coach who had given them so much and had taught them life lessons.
‘Ever since we were little kids, Coach Fife has been our idol,? said Senior Brandon Verlinden.
‘He always says it doesn’t mean anything. We just keep on winning, but it’s good for our team to get him that win. It’s special to be a part of it.?
Girls varsity basketball coach Tim Wasilk grew up with Fife’s three sons. He played for Fife when he was on a little league baseball team and when he played high school basketball.
‘He is a great coach and has been a part of so many great teams in Clarkston. It’s because of what he has put into his program and the community,? said Wasilk. ‘He has been a big influence on how I coach and it’s great to have a role model like that to look up to on a day-to-day basis – on basketball and life. He was a big influence on how I coach and what kind of person I became. He installed all the qualities to be a player and a person.?
Long-time friend and Wolves? varsity football coach Kurt Richardson has looked up to Fife since he was a few grades behind him and continues to look up to him as a coach.
‘It’s awesome for him to reach the milestone,? he said. ‘Coach Fife is what Clarkston is about. I think he is a role model for all of the coaches – he wins and he wins the right way.?
Fife and his program are not only known in the immediate area, but throughout Michigan.
Fife took over as varsity coach in 1982. Mel Vaara was assistant superintendent when he hired Fife to coach the freshman basketball team. After two years, Vaara hired him as varsity coach.
‘I have lots of good memories,? said Vaara. ‘Hiring Dan is one of them. He is such a great role mode for the kids and so is his wife, Jan. He has made his mark on Michigan. He has brought intensity to the program and kicked it up a notch. He has brought so many spectators to the game and he has great spectator support.?
Among the masses of fans that fill the bleachers during every home game are basketball enthusiasts coming to see the talent Fife is coaching in the season. Also, there are the regular fans – the Clarkstonites, the parents, the grandparents, the siblings of the players and the loudest set of cheering students in Oakland County.
Near the door where the Wolves? make their appearance, sit the next set of varsity Cagers, members of the McGrath League watching their older brothers and their idol, Fife, in action.
He started the league his first winter as varsity coach, giving boys a place to learn how to pass, dribble, shoot and work on a team. He named the league after his high school coach Bud McGrath.
Later on, he added two summer camps, Fife Fundamentals Basketball camp and Dan Fife Basketball camp for another outlet for young cagers to learn and work on their skills in a fun environment.
During every camp, he passes on his words of wisdom and lessons of the sport and life to the eager athletes, such as to listen to their teachers and parent and to take every opportunity to learn because it will help them in not only in the game, but in life.
‘So much more is behind the scenes that he does and no one sees what he is all about,? said Richardson. ‘He does so many things for the kids – any kid. I hope the community appreciates what they have.?
During his 27 years as varsity coach, Clarkston team has won 18 Conference titles, 21 District titles, and nine Regional titles.
With the wins, which became 501 after the boys game on Friday against Southfield, there have been losses. Fife has used those heartbreaking games as a lesson for his players that it builds character ands to show them what they are made of.
‘Coaching is a tough job. It says a lot that he sticks with it,? said Wasilk. ‘He gets the most out of his players and he has a passion for it.?
Fife has always been, and will always be a Wolf. He graduated from Clarkston High School in 1967 and played basketball, baseball and football.
As a Cager, he scored 1589 points, with 613 in one season. After he graduated, his number ?33? was retired. He went on to play basketball and baseball at the University of Michigan.
Before returning to his hometown in 1979, he pitched for the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins and coached for the Wolverines.