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Sports
March 30, 2011
Annese enters Hall of Fame
By Ariel Christy
Sports Editor
Ariel Christy/Collegiate
GRCC Head Coach Tony Annese known for his passion, intensity and drive for
success demands the most of his players on and off the field.
195-41.
That is GRCC Head Football
Coachs Tony Anneses overall high
school coaching record throughout 22
seasons of play. He has led his teams
to two undefeated seasons, 15 playoff
bids, two state seminals, three state
titles and impacted more young men
then most do in a lifetime. With such
an impressive record and respect by
all, it is no surprise that Annese will
be inducted into the Michigan High
School Football Coaches Association
Hall of Fame.
It is very humbling to be honored
with this award, Annese said. There
are many people who share in this
award including all the assistant
coaches and the players.
His initial decision to coach came
from his father, Nick Annese. He
witnessed the inuence his father
had on young people and followed in
his footsteps. Nick Annese coached
at Corunna High School and passed
away in 1983.
I chose the career path of being
a teacher and a coach because of
the impact I saw he had on young
people, Annese said. He was the
biggest inspiration on my life and
being a coach.
In 1985 Nick Annese was
inducted into the Michigan High
School Football Coaches Association
Hall of Fame, as a 23 year old rst
year coach Tony Annese accepted the
award on behalf of his father.
Now 27 years later, although he
still follows in his fathers success he
will accept his own award.
Annese graduated from Corunna
High School, attended and played
football at Alma College where he
earned his Bachelors Degree and
then went on to Central Michigan
University to earn his Masters Degree.
His 195 high school football wins
have come from all over the state of
Michigan. He has held head coaching
positions at Montrose, Ann Arbor
Pioneer, Jenison and Muskegon.
Annese is clearly driven by
success and the will to win. Rob
Zeitman, current Northview High
School Head Coach, saw this rst
hand while working for Annese as an
Assistant Coach at Muskegon High
School from 2001-2004.
He used to use the term
competitive beyond stupidity, and
thats exactly how he is, Zeitman
said. Regardless of any obstacle in his
way he is always competitive to win.
He is that competitive in everything
he does. All of those things combine
to make him successful.
In his early days of coaching
Annese led the 1989 and 1991
Montrose High School teams to a
9-0 season, however they were not
granted an opportunity for postseason
play.
Jeff Klopf played quarterback for
Annese in those successful seasons at
Montrose and he is one of the many
young men that Annese has impacted.
Tony Annese impacted my
life more than my football career,
Klopf said. Football helped keep me
focused, but I gravitated toward his
personality. I had to work hard, keep
my grades up to play and through
football with him I was introduced
to other successful avenues in life I
would not know about. I excelled at
football not just because of him as a
coach but more as a person.
Klopf went onto Eastern Michigan
University then transferred to Saginaw
Valley State University for football
where he was granted All American
honors. After college he also played
in the NFL for the Cleveland Browns.
While at Muskegon Annese led
the Big Reds to Division Two State
Championships in 2004, 2006 and
2008.
Despite his success on the eld
Annese was not only teaching the
game of football but also how to be
successful in life.
He taught us how to study the
game and our position, from breaking
down lm and knowing different
outcomes to the plays, said former
inside linebacker and 2002 Muskegon
High School graduate Larry Petty. He
not only taught us football but also
traits and characteristics that we as
men need in everyday life.
Petty went on to play at Dakota
Wesleyan University and is currently
working on his Masters degree at
Eastern Michigan University.
Although the glory of big games
like those at Muskegon can be
glamorous, Annese nds his time
well spent on the practice eld.
Everyday I enjoy going to the
practice eld, Annese said. Im not
a person that enjoys a game more
than the everyday interacting with
the kids. The practice eld is like my
sanctuary.
The setting in thesanctuary that
he creates on the practice eld is a
demanding one.
He makes an environment that
you know you are going to work
harder then you ever have before, but
you are also going to get a good laugh
or two, Klopf said. His intensity
and humor are what sets him apart
among many other things.
On the practice eld is where
he is able to connect with his
players outside of the pressures and
distractions effecting young men
today.
Nick Scott, an offensive tackle for
Annese and recent transfer to GRCC,
connects with Annese and his system.
Despite the incredible demands in and
out of season, Scott is there everyday
working hard for Annese.
He pushes us to be great not only
on the eld but off of it too, Scott
said. He drives us to be successful
men in life.
He does whatever it takes to
connect and reach the kids on their
level, Zeitman said. He always takes
the time to develop relationships with
his players. Its easy to get lost in the
xs and os of the game and system
and he doesnt, he maintains the
relationships.
The relationships that develop
prove to be invaluable in times of
need for any of his current or former
players, they always know who to
call.
He genuinely cares about his
former players and wants them to
excel in whatever they do, Klopf said.
Anyone that plays for him knows if
they get in a bind they know they can
call him. He was always there for me,
no matter what the problem was like
girls, academics, or football. If I had
a bad day I wouldnt call my parents,
Id call him. He really was a second
dad to me.
Currently Anneses record in
his third year at GRCC is 20-3 and
is obviously continuing his winning
ways.
He has won over new players
with his intensity, passion for the
game and demand for success.
He works us so hard but is
always consistent with what he says,
I like that in a coach, GRCC running
back Chris Walker said. Not to
mention he doesnt take any excuses
from anybody.
Many of Anneses former players
appreciate all he dedicates to them
personally and the game. They hope
those playing for him now realize the
opportunity they are granted with
such a coach.
Players now are in the presence
of greatness, Klopf said. They should
relish it and take it in. Seize every
moment and never take advantage of
it.
Even 21 years after he played
highschool football for him and his
award winning college career, Klopf
wishes he could be there to see the
coach that he loves enter the hall of
fame.
I wish I wouldve taken more
snapshots in my head and taken in
more from him. I wish I couldve
played for him forever.
Doug Wabeke resigns as Athletic Director but will
not leave Grand Rapids Community College
By Ariel Christy
Sports Editor
From his rst day as a student
at Grand Rapids Community College
in 1976 to today, Athletic Director
Doug Wabeke has been committed to
athletics in a variety of roles.
Although he is resigning from his
current position as Athletic Director
Wabeke isnt leaving the college and is
looking forward to follow his interests
in coaching and administration.
Currently Wabeke holds
numerous positions in addition to
Athletic Director at GRCC.
He is a full time wellness
instructor, the Department Head of
Wellness, the Eligibility Chairperson,
Region 12 Baseball Director and
Michigan Community College Athletic
Association Baseball Chairperson.
Being the AD is very time
consuming and Im looking to do
more with student involvement,
Wabeke said. I have so many admin
roles and I want to get back in the
classroom with the students.
After being a two sport athlete in
baseball and basketball from 1976-
1978 at GRCC, Wabeke went on to
Central Michigan University and then
was drafted by the San Francisco
Giants where he played 4 seasons.
In his 17 years as head baseball
coach he went onto lead GRCC to
14 league titles and nine regional
championships.
This place has given me tons of
opportunity from my very rst day
when the Fieldhouse was open and
Im not going anywhere, Wabeke
said. I have other professional things
I want to do while I still can.
Wabeke expressed interest in
returning to USA Baseball and its
national program. In 2003 he was
head baseball coach of the USA junior
team at the Pan American Games.
He has also served on the USA
senior coaching staff throughout
1994 to 2005. Wabeke informed
GRCC of his resignation in February.
He will carry out the Athletic Director
position until the end of the academic
year.
The timing is just right and I
feel good about it, Wabeke said. Im
just adjusting my responsibilities and
denitely not leaving GRCC.

2012 Michigan Community College Press Association Judging Form

Place of award:

First Place Second Place Third Place Honorable Mention

Category: Sports feature

Headline/title of entry: Annese enters Hall of Fame

Contestants name: Ariel Christy

College name: Grand Rapids Community College

Judges comments: Very nice story about GRCC head football coach Tony Annese! s
induction into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Coach Annese sounds like a good guy who! s dedicated both to the game and to his
players.

You did a great job getting quotes from a number of sources" people who coached with
him, people who played from him when he was a high-school coach, and people who
play for him now. They round out the story well and help to really show what Coach
Annese is like.

I have just one complaint: You confused me with your lead. I got lost in why GRCC! s
football coach would qualify for the high school coaches! hall of fame. A small change
might have helped:

195-41.

Thats the record head football coach Tony Annese, now in his third year at GRCC,
compiled in 22 years of coaching at the high-school level. He led his teams to two
undefeated seasons

Otherwise, I enjoyed this story very much. Nice job!

pcm