Congratulations to the following former and current UCS coaches for being honored next week as the newest members of the Macomb County Coaches Hall of Fame.
Tom Lerch
Utica and Eisenhower Public Address Announcer
Anyone who has attended athletic events at Utica or Eisenhower over the last two decades has recognized a familiar voice coming through the public address system. It’s the voice of Tom Lerch, who has been behind the microphone for Eisenhower basketball and football since 2001 and for Utica’s basketball, football, soccer, track and cheerleading events beginning in 2004.
Tom McDonald
Utica High School Girls Basketball
Tom McDonald is in a very select group among Macomb County’s girls basketball coaches.
When McDonald guided his 1999 Utica team to the Class A state championship he became the third county coach to win a state title in girls basketball, following Mary Knechtges of L’Anse Creuse (1978) and Carol Susalla of Warren Woods (1975). Mike Lee joined the group in 2016 when his Cousino girls won in Class A.
He has more than 300 games during his coaching career.
Gary Rojeski
Henry Ford II, Utica and Eppler football
Gary Rojeski, who was a three-sport athlete at Utica, became the first football coach at Ford when it began play in 1973.
In his nine years as head coach, Rojeski led the Falcons to seven winning seasons, including Oakland A division championships in 1973 and 1978. In 17 years as a varsity and junior varsity coach at Ford, Rojeski’s teams had a 101-55-1 record. He later coached at Utica where the Chieftains compiled a 48-41 record.
In three years at Eppler Junior High, Rojeski’s teams were 23-4.
Tom Stockton
Stevenson Bowling
Tom Stockton is definitely “Mr. High School Bowling” in Macomb County.
It’s also a state-wide title that would fit the longtime Stevenson bowling coach. Stockton’s contributions to high school bowling are never-ending.
He began building the Titans’ successful boys and girls programs in 1997. He is a driving force in the Michigan High School Interscholastic Bowling Association and has been on the board of directors since the organization was formed in 2002. Stockton has been a regional and state final manager for the Michigan High School Athletic Association since it began hosting sanctioned tournaments in 2004.
Butch Wagner
Ford II football, baseball and soccer
Butch Wagner coached high school sports for 27 years, beginning in 1970 as the varsity baseball and junior varsity football coach at Avondale. Two years later, he moved to Ford where he coached several sports, including baseball, soccer and football.
He was the head varsity football coach for 20 years, posting a record of 105-73. He guided his teams to four division championships and four trips to the state playoffs. Wagner’s best season as coach of the Falcons was 1994, when they went 9-0 and won the Macomb Area Conference Red Division championship. He was selected as Macomb County Coach of the Year in 1994.
Wagner also spent eight years as Ford’s athletic director.
Dean Tremonti
Shelby basketball, softball, track and football
Dean Tremonti coached at Shelby Junior High for 33 years. He coached football, posting a 91-50 record over 23 seasons.
His 32 boys basketball teams went 309-219 and his 11 girls basketball teams had a 73-54 mark. In 24 seasons coaching softball, his teams were 171-115. He also coached ninth grade track at Shelby for three years.
Original source can be found here.
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