Current and former players, colleagues, friends, family, and the community will honor recently retired Varsity Boys Basketball Coach Dan Fife on Friday, Dec. 14, at 6:20 p.m. before the Wolves take on Wayne Memorial High School.
“Let’s pack the gym with students, current and former McGrath campers, alumni, colleagues, friends, and family to say thanks to this Clarkston legend,” said Athletic Director Jeff Kosin.
Fife coached the Wolves basketball team to back-to-back state championships in 2017 and 2018, served the district as head coach for 36 years and athletic director for more than 20 years, with a career coaching record of 703-170, all at Clarkston High School.
“Coach Fife’s legacy in Clarkston began when he moved to the community in 1957 and soon became a standout student athlete,” Kosin said.
Fife played basketball at the University of Michigan and baseball for the Minnesota Twins before returning to Clarkston to coach.
The third winningest coach in Michigan High School Basketball history, he led the Clarkston team to 29 OAA league championships, 30 district championships, and 13 regional championships; and was inducted to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame in 2009. Two of his players were named Michigan’s “Mr. Basketball” – Foster Loyer in 2018 and his son Dane Fife in 1998. He son Dugan Fife was Mr. Basketball runner-up in 1992, and son Jeremy Fife was one of Mitch Albom’s Senior Student Athletes of the Year.
The schools and community will honor recently retired Eric Chambers, assistant varsity basketball coach of 24 years, and Dale Ryan, “Voice of the Wolves” basketball announcer of 29 years, at the Wolves’ home opener on Dec. 7 against Orchard Lake St. Mary’s.
The presentations are scheduled for 6:30 p.m., before the varsity game at Clarkston High, 6093 Flemings Lake Road.
Tickets are $5.