FWIW - Renaissance football coaching staff fired.
FWIW, my brother who goes to Renaissance told me that a number of football players told him that the entire football coaching staff has been fired after another losing season. Journalism teacher confirmed it today to the kids on newspaper staff and they're running the story tomorrow in the school paper. Coach Watts always got so little out of lots of talent, and it amazes me it took this long.
I don't know what kind of impact this has on future recruits from Renaissance, but no longer having an irrational, grudge-holding coaching staff has to help. Chris Norman, Dana Dixon, Mylan Hicks are all current Spartans from Renaissance, and obviously Lawrence Thomas is headed there next year. Renaissance did send one player (Derek Knight) to Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia, but not since Carson Butler and Andre Criswell has a Phoenix played for Michigan.
October 25th, 2010 at 5:54 PM ^
This is a definite break for us. Any ex-UM players want to break into coaching?
October 25th, 2010 at 6:14 PM ^
Larry Foote does, but he still has a few NFL years left and went to Pershing. But you are correct, this is a huge break for us. Lets just hope someone who is a bit more Pro-Michigan gets the job.
October 25th, 2010 at 7:05 PM ^
Although I would like to see M get first crack at any recruit they want. Hopefully they hire a coaching staff that is able to do what is best for the kids involved.
October 25th, 2010 at 7:33 PM ^
Isn't he at West Bloomfield?
October 25th, 2010 at 8:07 PM ^
Yeah, and WBHS doesn't have very good athletes. He would definitely have better talent at Renaissance...
October 25th, 2010 at 8:19 PM ^
Being an WBHS alum, I agree with this statement.
October 26th, 2010 at 11:14 AM ^
But let's give credit where credit is due; I'll bet your chess team kicks some serious ass.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:07 PM ^
Too bad for them, no one wants to see anyone lose a job these days. Hopefully, we will get some coaches that care about their players more than past history.
edit : Meant - Hopefully, they will get some coaches that care about their players more than past history.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:01 PM ^
Makes me wonder why the Southwestern coaches still have jobs....I mean how do you have hankins and Gholston on your D and not at least make a state title game??
While i agree that no one wants to lose a job these days...that group has been about as awful as the Ren group has...
Of course Wilcher at Cass Tech is almost in the same bout with some of the talent he has put out the last 4 or 5 yrs...
October 25th, 2010 at 6:06 PM ^
I think you mean Southeastern. Didn't their coach go to MSU, so maybe we will have better luck there as well.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:14 PM ^
Yeah Southwestern hasn't been good in football since the 70's when the late great Joe Hoskins was the coach.
Little bit of trivia; Detroit Southwestern lost to Livonia Franklin in the first Class A State Title game back in the day.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:27 PM ^
is in the playoffs for the 3rd time in 4 years, so they are at least okay at football now.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:31 PM ^
My bad, haven't been following the Prospectors very closely as of late. Good job Southwestern!!!
October 25th, 2010 at 6:08 PM ^
weren't the southeastern coaches fired last year?
October 25th, 2010 at 6:09 PM ^
Cass Tech is 9-0 and looks like a real contender to win it all. And also, correct me if I'm wrong, but it's Southeastern, not Southwestern. And they did make it to the final 8 teams in D1 the last two years which is a good accomplishment.
October 25th, 2010 at 7:28 PM ^
The PSL teams are really weak, and Cass Tech and Southeastern have their way with the rest of the league yearly.
This year should be no different, and don't be surprised if Cass Tech bows out of the playoffs in the second or third round, like usual.
October 25th, 2010 at 7:49 PM ^
for Cass Tech this year. Their 25-0 win over MLK impressed me considering MLK knocked off Brother Rice. To be fair, I suppose, BR has played a lot better since, but still. I think Cass Tech is gonna make a lot of noise in this years playoffs.
October 17th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
many people will never see this, considering how old this thread is, but I was kinda right about Cass Tech, Tim. (I know Tim will NEVER see this). They did end up making it deep in the playoffs in the season in question (2010), and lost 24-21 in the semi-finals to the eventual state champs, Lake Orion.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:15 PM ^
Cass Tech is currently undefeated with only one game within 25 points. 44-42 against Pioneer to start the season.
Gholston and Hankins played at Southeastern. Southeastern won 2 playoff games in each of the previous 2 seasons... but their coach left his job for a spot coordinating videos (or something) for MSU.
EDIT: Fourth!
October 25th, 2010 at 7:37 PM ^
He was a assistant. Probably the first time a ass't HS football coach got hired by a BCS conference program. Good things happen to you if you are a legal guardian for a five star recruit.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:27 PM ^
My bad i meant Southeastern...negbang away if necessary...
October 25th, 2010 at 7:35 PM ^
Isn't that like asking: "How do you have Donovan Warren and Brandon Graham on your defense and not be in contention for a Big X title?" Two players does not a team make.
October 25th, 2010 at 9:38 PM ^
It's not like that at all. In high school, if there are two blue chips on a team, more likely than not, that team is pretty competitive.
October 25th, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
Not if they are both on defense.
October 25th, 2010 at 10:39 PM ^
Gholston and Hankins were major contributors on both sides of the ball, as are most top rated high school recruits.
October 26th, 2010 at 4:16 AM ^
I stand corrected. Huzzah!
October 25th, 2010 at 11:55 PM ^
...he's good. The winning is usually secondary in importance. Titles don't get kids out of the hood.
Of course, Cass Tech and Renaissance kids are getting out, anyway, so...
October 25th, 2010 at 6:02 PM ^
If coaches steer any kid away from any school based on their own likes and dislikes, they are not doing their job. Their job is to benefit their kids, not their egos. They all deserved to be fired. Good riddance.
October 14th, 2011 at 1:05 AM ^
of course it is now clear that going to MSU was very good for Gholston...
October 25th, 2010 at 6:02 PM ^
comes around. It is part of the Renaissance of change.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:09 PM ^
Glenville coaching staff.
October 25th, 2010 at 7:50 PM ^
Glenville is 8-0.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:14 PM ^
Good for the kids at Renaissance. Could you imagine if your kid was being steered away from a situation that might benefit him because his coach was a spiteful homer for their rival?
October 25th, 2010 at 6:21 PM ^
Especially when you're talking about arguably the most prestigious high school in Detroit. Like Cass Tech, it's a selective school. A Renaissance kid should not be discouraged from attending the top university in the state.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:40 PM ^
Having grown up near Renaissance, the thought that it had become a pipeline to MSU was hard to swallow. Hopefully that can revert to normal now.
October 26th, 2010 at 10:04 AM ^
a lot of inner city kids are intersted in state for their acclaimed agricultural and mining programs. also, turf management.
/sarc
October 25th, 2010 at 6:19 PM ^
their players are going to need a new chaperon to "protect" them on their Michigan visits.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:35 PM ^
Who were coaching when Criswell and Butler pledged to UM? I would love to know what changed the mindset of all those kids if the staff was the same.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:44 PM ^
Yes, they were the same coaches. The thing that changed is Michigan's (and Michigan State's) coaching staff.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:51 PM ^
I thought they were angry at Carr over Butler being in his doghouse.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:47 PM ^
Here's tOB's write-up:
The video of Ren's head coach, Antonio Watts, bashing Michigan for treating his former players (Carson Butler and Andre Criswell) unfairly has been well circulated at this point.
The whole article is pretty long and I remember seeing the video long ago, but links are gone.
October 25th, 2010 at 6:50 PM ^
Yeah, I removed any link to the video because it started popping up virus warnings on people's computers, apparently.
October 25th, 2010 at 10:31 PM ^
Great story. I hadn't read that previously. Have you tried sending it to the Freep?
October 25th, 2010 at 7:14 PM ^
this staff was nothing but thugs. This is the first time i have been happy to see a fellow michigander be fired. I have no problem with a kid choosing state. But to steer a child away from a prestiges school such as UM is ridiculous.
October 25th, 2010 at 7:22 PM ^
Karma is a bitch. It's nice when a wrong in the world is made right.
October 25th, 2010 at 7:25 PM ^
Does this change anything for Lawrence Thomas?
October 25th, 2010 at 8:10 PM ^
I'm sure D'Antonio and co. will do everything in their power to keep him green. I'm sure this guy is being advised by the same coaches (even though they're fired) to stay with his decision.
October 25th, 2010 at 8:12 PM ^
Nope, he's Green all the way. Unfortunately, I can't blame him at the moment, either.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:55 PM ^