By Sue Moore
A page has been turned in the storied history of Schoolcraft High School football. After 36 seasons of coaching the Eagles, the last 13 as head coach, Terry Haas announced his retirement in December.
Coach Haas paced the gridiron for 46 years, seven as a player (Delton Kellogg High School and Kalamazoo College), and 39 as a coach (Comstock, Delton Kellogg and Schoolcraft).
“I enjoy coaching because I love working with kids and watching them succeed,” Coach Haas said. “I have always felt that I am a teacher first and a coach second. I tried to make teaching life skills and positive character traits more important than the scoreboard. My fondest memories are the meaningful relationships that I was able to develop with the players. It has been rewarding to watch them grow up and become successful in life. I would like to thank all the administrators, athletic directors, coaches, players, parents, community, and loyal fans for their positive support.”
Schoolcraft athletic director Jeff Clark said “it has been an honor to have Coach Haas lead our Eagles over his illustrious career. Beyond football, Terry Haas has been a positive influence for so many students. He has been a dedicated teacher, coach, and mentor. He has had such a positive impact on the young men in our football program and was a strong leader throughout our athletic department.”
Haas, a Delton native, began his coaching career as a JV coach at Delton Kellogg High School in 1979. The next year he served as varsity assistant at Delton Kellogg High School. In 1981, he coached junior varsity football at Comstock High School. The last 36 years Haas coached at Schoolcraft High School. He ended up as a teacher in Schoolcraft along with Ted Manning, another illustrious coach and teacher who recalled, “In 1981, there were two jobs posted for science and social studies in the middle school and high school in Schoolcraft. I told Ted there’s one for you and one for me. After that we traded back and forth four different times together as varsity and assistant football coaches.”
Coach Haas was the middle school coach for one year and the JV coach for 22 years, compiling an audacious 174-19-2 record.
During his 13 seasons as head coach at Schoolcraft High School, Terry led the Eagles to five conference championships and one district title. Even more impressive, his teams were academic all-state four times. Haas compiled a 95-40 record as head coach at Schoolcraft High School and was inducted in the Michigan High Football Hall of Fame in 2016. He was regional coach of the year in 2009 and 2016.
Haas said, “John Wooden summed it up best by saying, “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.”
Haas will continue to serve as varsity golf coach at Schoolcraft High School.