BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
Tim Wasilk has a new role as he takes over as head coach for Clarkston Boys Varsity Basketball.
“He loves Clarkston,” said Dan Fife, who retired from the position in September. “He’s all about Clarkston. He wants to coach basketball. He loves coaching basketball. I like one of my former players to coach because they know all about what’s going on in the program with McGrath and anything else.”

“I am excited but sad at the same time,” Wasilk said. “I am really going to miss coaching with Coach Fife and Coach (Eric) Chambers. We have coached together for a while and I played for Coach Fife. Not a lot of people know it but Coach Chambers was my assistant coach when I was playing in high school. I am sad not to be coaching with those guys because we had a good thing going with us and the players.”
Wasilk played for Clarkston until he graduated in 1996. He headed the girls varsity basketball team for ten years before joining the boys program as assistant coach with the varsity team in 2015.
“I felt comfortable already being in that role on the girls side. Then, jumping over here and assisting on the boys side helped prepare me being with Coach Fife, Coach Chambers and the talented group of players we had taught me a lot,” he said. “I feel like under Coach Fife and Coach Chambers’ leadership I am ready to take that next step. It helped playing for those guys and coaching in the system. I want to continue to use Coach Fife and Coach Chambers as a resource. We are fortunate enough to bring Doug Colling back as an assistant who was the JV coach for 16 years. He will be helping me out as an assistant.”
The transition hasn’t been too difficult since he has been on the bench during summer camps and around during conditioning.
“We have been doing open gyms and the kids have been playing in fall league. I have been there and trying to establish a better relationship with the kids with all the new faces this year,” he said.
He plans to take some of the things he learned from Fife, Chambers and other coaches he played for and work it into his coaching.
“When it comes down to it, I have to be me,” he said. “I have to believe in my system and what we are doing in it.”
Tryouts for the winter season start in less than three weeks and he is excited with the 11 new players coming into the team.
He said the goal is simple for this year’s team – improve every day and improve throughout the season.
“With all the new kids we have a chance to be very good but at the same time there will be bumps along the road,” Wasilk said, adding they will establish leadership , how hard they want to practice and how hard they want to play Clarkston basketball.
“It’s a great community,” Wasilk added. “I am glad I have been given the opportunity to do this. I would like to thank my wife, Sarah, and kids, Smith, Ava, and Presley, for their constant love and support and allowing me to follow my dream of being the head coach of Clarkston High School. The sacrifices they are making and will continue to make do not go unnoticed. Thank you to Coach Fife and Coach Chambers. Thank you to Jeff Kosin for the opportunity.”

  Clarkston Varsity Boys Basketball, head coach, Tim Wasilk