In support of the new coaches
The Rogers City High School athletic department will be recommending the hiring of new basketball coaches Jesse Streich and Emily McLean at Monday?s Board of Education meeting. As a story in last week?s Advance stated, Streich is up for the boys? coaching job, while McLean looks to be the next girls? coach. If the board gives their approval, I?m looking forward to seeing how these young coaches do on the Huron sidelines.
McLean has been around the girls? basketball program the last few years and knows what it is like to win at another level. She was on one of Rogers City?s state runner-up softball teams and was successful in college as well, but also was on the last girls? basketball team to make a playoff run of any kind. McLean should have a good group of girls to work with next year to build her program around.
My prediction for the Huron girls? program is that McLean will get things back on track and get the program back to a level of success once enjoyed when she was last on the court. For Streich, I like his enthusiasm and drive, in spite of the pressure he?ll be facing. He knows he?ll be under the community microscope and is ready for the challenge. In his job in the agriculture field, he?s worked with some tough customers over the years and believes he has the thick skin it?s going to take to handle the extra baggage that comes with the whistle.
Most coaches say, if the job only involved sports it would be one of the most enjoyable tasks in town. More times than not, there are other things going on that don?t make the newspaper: problems with players and/or parents. The boys? basketball coaching job is the toughest in town, no question. Remember what happened more than a year ago when a group of parents tried to get the coach fired. No other examples are needed. With that backdrop, Streich still isn?t flinching and wants a crack at success. He?ll have the community behind him on that one. And while both have limited basketball coaching expereince, their upsides far
?Kudos to local Little League officials for bringing in tournament games to see on the home fields again. Hopefully, local fans will return the favor and watch the junior girls play their district opener Monday at Gilpin Field and the senior boys when they have their first scheduled games. ?The Tigers need base runners and a fresh bat in that lineup. Somebody like left-handed slugger Adam Dunn of Washington. Team president Dave Dombrowski will make a trade for someone, but will it be the right player?
?On the day the ?King of Pop? was laid to rest, the ?King of Rock and Roll? was celebrated at Comerica Park with a special theme night. It seemed a little silly until I heard Jim Leyland say he loved Elvis? music and doesn?t know what the h*&$ kids are listening to these days. It?s hard to understand what Jim is mumbling sometimes, but that thought came through loud and clear. Elvis Night might be pushing it a tad, but here are some rejected theme nights, courtesy of 97.1 The Ticket, Detroit, an Internet station I frequently listen to: ? Lions red zone night: no one gets in. ? Pistons coaches night: you only get to keep your seat for one, maybe two innings, then you’re out.