Coach Jeff Kutschman is at left. (Photo from the MHSAA)
Nearly 30 years ago, I left behind a career as a sports journalist in pursuit of my teaching degree.
One of the many inspirations for that decision was a man named Joe Clinton.
Joe was not only an English teacher at Troy Athens (MI) High School, but he was also a coach.
And when I say coach, I mean he coached.
A true man for all seasons, Joe coached girls’ varsity basketball, middle school basketball, boys’ junior varsity golf, and track and field. I’m pretty sure he also took a turn at football coaching at various times (he played collegiately, after all, and 60 years later he still owns Eastern Michigan University’s career interceptions record with 20), and I’m fairly certain his longtime friend and colleague, Tim Storch, had him helping as a soccer coach from time to time.
I write all of that not because my guest on this episode of Conversations with Sports Fans is Joe Clinton.
I wish!
We, sadly, lost Joe over 20 years ago now:-(
I write this because, as I spoke with Conversations’ guest Jeff Kutschman, I began to realize similar characteristics between him and Joe. They both loved working with the student-athletes, and they both have some unconventional ways in which they go about building a rapport with their athletes and, subsequently, getting the most out of them. You’ll learn about Jeff’s approach during our time together. As for Joe, I’ll just say, I’m fairly certain there aren’t too many varsity coaches scheduling pre-game team dinners with that night’s opponent and its coaching staff three hours before tip-off.
I trust you’ll enjoy learning about Jeff’s life as a sports fan, educator, and coach, including how he went from walking around the Detroit Zoo to accepting a golf coaching job that, ultimately, led him to Michigan Coach of the Year honors as well as a pair of state championships.