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November 16, 2005Traverse City coach Jim Ooley dies at 77Central coach had 21 winning seasons
Ooley
Jim Ooley, who led Traverse City to three state championships in his 25 years as head football coach, passed away at Munson Medical Center. He was 77. "I hate to hear that," said friend and former Traverse City broadcaster Jim Moyes, who now lives in Muskegon. "That's a tough loss for Traverse City." Ooley, who had been in ill health, retired as coach following the 1991 season. He helped put Traverse City football on the map, first as an assistant under Bob Bacon and then as head coach. He finished with a 179-60-4 record. "He was a legend," said former coach and longtime friend Waldo Keating. "He was a tremendous coach. You could go anywhere in the state and as soon as you told someone you were from Traverse City, they would ask, 'Do you know Jim Ooley?' "A lot of it had to do with the respect other high school coaches had for him. When he would speak at clinics, they would all sit and listen. "I still cite all the things he did - even getting out his old playbook - when I talk to other coaches in the area." Ooley, who had triple bypass surgery on his birthday in May, saw two Traverse City football games this fall, including the Central-West showdown late last month that drew between 8,000-10,000 fans. "It's great to see the stands filled like this," he said that night. "There's still a lot of interest in Traverse City football. That pleases my heart." Ooley helped build that enthusiasm and tradition. His teams routinely played before 5,000 fans at Thirlby Field before it was rebuilt and enlarged. Attending a Friday night game at Thirlby was a happening. Ooley had 21 winning seasons, playing schedules that included heavyweights like Muskegon, Escanaba, Detroit Catholic Central and Birmingham Brother Rice. The Trojans won state championships in 1978, 1985 and 1988 - testaments to the success of his program. "When you think of Traverse City football, you think of Jim Ooley," said former All-State tight end Marc Burkholder. Stability was a key in Ooley's program. He surrounded himself with quality assistants. Several were with him most of his 25-year tenure, including defensive coordinator Roger Wood, who succeeded him as head coach in 1992. "Jim loved life, loved football, loved kids," Wood said. Ooley cultivated his program, even starting a summer touchdown football league for elementary and middle school children - long before Pop Warner existed. He also played an instrumental role off the field, helping to establish the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association, the playoff system and the all-star football game. His 1975 team played in the first Class A state championship game, losing to Livonia Franklin 21-7. "I think that was one of his few disappointments," Moyes said. "He felt he should have won that one." Ooley and the Trojans remedied that three years later, beating North Farmington 20-14 for the title. With Wood in charge of the defense, Ooley focused on the offense. A former lineman in high school and college, Ooley took pride in developing the line for his power running game. "Jim's strongest suit was in devising blocking schemes," said Keating, who coached against Ooley when he was at Muskegon Catholic. "He had such an understanding of the mechanics of blocking, of what kids could and could not do. Then, he was able to devise schemes that changed week to week depending on the opponent. It was a nightmare coaching against a Jim Ooley team. You never knew what to expect." His players knew what to expect, though. "Jim was always prepared and so were the kids," former assistant Tom Wilson said. "He knew how to dissect defenses, attack defenses. He knew what he was going to do at all times." Wilson said the Trojans ran a basic set of plays, but often changed blocking schemes and formations to keep opponents off balance. "We didn't do anything flashy," Burkholder said. "Teams knew what we were going to do - up the middle, off tackle, maybe a belly play. It was straight forward football. But we executed it well." Dave Halachukas, a lineman on the 1974-75 teams, called it "basic" football. "It was 'here it comes, try to stop us.' " he said. "Jim knew he could win with technique." Ooley, who spent four years with the junior varsity and 10 years as an assistant under Bacon before becoming head coach, also had a knack for play-calling. "He always knew what to call, what play would work," said Chris Hathaway, his quarterback on the 1985 team. Hathaway was involved in one of the most celebrated plays in Traverse City football history. With just eight seconds remaining - and the Trojans down 21-14 at Muskegon in a battle of unbeatens - Hathaway passed to Jeff Durocher, who then pitched to a trailing Doug Lautner. The senior halfback raced down the sideline untouched to complete the 47-yard flea-flicker as time expired, pulling Traverse City within a point of tying the Big Reds and sending the game to overtime. Ooley, however, opted to go for two points and the win. "He asked Jeff, 'What can you beat him (defensive back) on?' " Hathaway recalled. Ooley, whose team threw an uncharacteristic 21 times that night, called a pass play that had been working all night - at least it had been working up until the last minute of play. With under 30 seconds to go, Hathaway tossed his first interception of the year and Muskegon returned it 88 yards for a touchdown and a 21-14 lead. Undaunted, Ooley called the same play and this time Hathaway's pass found Durocher. "That's the most incredible comeback I've ever seen," said Moyes, who was then broadcasting for Muskegon. "That propelled Traverse City into the playoffs and to a state championship." Hathaway said the comeback hammered home a point, too. "He (Ooley) taught us to never give up," Hathaway said. "That night in Muskegon, we didn't give up." After his coaching career, Ooley helped launch the Century Club to keep past and present Traverse City football players and teams connected. The club annually recognizes former players and coaches who are part of the Traverse City football lore. The 1985 team was honored this past summer, although Ooley was unable to attend because of his health. "These get-togethers keep the Traverse City football tradition alive," Hathaway said. "It really shows how much pride he (Ooley) had in Traverse City football." Ooley - who taught wood shop, biology and computer applications - also played an active role in the rebuilding of Thirlby Field and he was in the process of writing a book on the history of Traverse City football. In retirement, Ooley delivered communion to patients at Munson. "It would take him awhile because he knew just about everybody," Keating said. Ooley touched the lives of many. "He did an awful lot for a lot of kids," said Jim Anderson, a former player and colleague. "He loved the game, he loved people. He was a gift to the community."
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