Rockford boys beat West Ottawa in Steve Majerle's 600th game coaching
Jeff Chaney | The Grand Rapids Press, February 16, 2011 1:23 a.m.
ROCKFORD -- Steve Majerle believes he is a much better
high school basketball coach now than when he started 23 years ago.
And it’s not because of improved game plans or more wins.
Majerle coached his 600th game, including both boys and girls, Tuesday
night as Rockford beat West Ottawa 62-53.
Majerle is 375-161 in 23 years as a boys coach at Cheboygan, Mount
Pleasant and Rockford, and 43-21 in three years leading the Rockford
girls program.
"When I first started, I coached for the wrong reasons, because
you are trying to prove yourself and you concentrate on the wins," said
Majerle, who is 239-90 in 14 years at Rockford, including a Class
A state championship in 2003.
"But now as I get older, I’m doing it for the right reasons.
I’m teaching kids discipline and to be better people, as well
as better basketball players. I feel better coaching now because
I’m building better people."
Last week, Majerle had to make a tough call with his team when he
removed junior guard Justin Klein from the squad.
"I had to make one of those tough calls, and he’s gone
for the year," Majerle said. "We will keep (the reasons)
in house, though."
Instead of taking a step back, Rockford has responded with two big
wins, beating Grand Haven on Friday and West Ottawa on Tuesday.
"The last two games have been therapeutic," Majerle said. "The
last two games we have been playing the way we are suppose to play,
as a team. We are sharing the basketball. Tonight we did just that,
we shared the basketball, got hot from the outside and knocked down
some (3-pointers). Everybody contributed."
Rockford (11-6, 8-3 OK Red) warmed up in the third, when it connected
on five consecutive 3-pointers and six in the quarter, which helped
turn a 31-30 halftime deficit into a 55-39 lead. Rockford finished
with nine 3-pointers.
Rockford kept West Ottawa at bay in the fourth quarter and avenged
one of its three conference losses.
"They are playing a lot better, and it showed," West Ottawa
coach Jeff VanFossan said. "Six 3s in the third by four different
players, that’s hard to defend. And we missed a couple of layups
and had a turnover, and they are making 3s at the other end in that
quarter, that’s tough."
West Ottawa (6-10, 2-9) was led by Jorddan Myrick’s 21 points.
Majerle’s son, Ryan, led all scorers with 25 points, including
two 3-pointers.
Majerle has no plans to end his coaching career at 23 years and
become a full-time fan of Toledo, which is where his son will play
next year.
"I will be wearing Toledo gear next year," Majerle said. "To
be honest with you, at the beginning of the year I thought this was
it, but I’m having such a good time with my assistant (Ryan
DeKuiper). The tough part about this job is always being second guessed,
it takes its toll. But I have such a great assistant and staff, from
seventh to 12th grade, that for right now, I’m staying put."
