Legendary Clarkston basketball coach Dan Fife passes away at 74

The Village of Clarkston has lost one of its most well-known citizens as legendary Clarkston High School boys basketball coach Dan Fife has died at the age of 74.

Fife, who retired from coaching in 2018, was also a student-athlete for Clarkston and went on to have a brief Major League Baseball career before turning to coaching. After taking the Clarkston head coach job with the boys basketball program in 1983, he held the position for 36 seasons. He won the program’s first state championships in the final two seasons of his career, going back-to-back in 2017 and 2018 in Class A.

Fife, who also graduated from Clarkston in 1967 as a premiere student-athlete, is widely regarded as one of the best high school basketball coaches in state history with a career record of 703-170 (.805). His 703 victories are third all-time in state history, according to the Michigan High School Athletic Association’s records. He won 30 district titles, 29 league titles and 13 region championships. He is a member of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Hall of Fame and Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.

While Fife’s records provide a great legacy to remembered, many in the Clarkston community will remember Fife as a man who positively influenced the lives of so many student-athletes over the years.

Current Clarkston boys basketball coach Tim Wasilk was coached by Fife and took over the position after Fife’s retirement.

“Coach Fife was like a second father to me,” Wasilk said in a statement. “He was my coach, my friend, my mentor. The life lessons he instilled in me will stay with me forever. Coach Fife drew parallels between life and every sport kids played. He truly has impacted thousands, and we are all better to have known him. Coach Fife’s legacy will continue in Clarkston and beyond for decades to come. I am honored to help carry on the legacy he built. I miss him dearly.”

Back in 2017, leading up to his first state championship as coach of the Wolves, Fife was named one of the state’s all-time great coaches by MLive. While interviewing for the story in the midst of his first state-championship season, Fife said the being able to watch his players develop on and off the court as his most valuable prize.

“I’m proud of the association I’ve had with the kids and families at Clarkston,” Fife told MLive. “When I’m able to look back and see my former players and who they are today as dads and husbands and the lives they’re leading, ultimately, I guess in some ways, they become our trophies.”

Fife was born on Oct. 5, 1949 in Harrisburg, Ill. and his family moved to the Village of Clarkston in 1957 when he was seven years old. When he got to high school, Fife was a decorated basketball and baseball player for the Wolves.

After graduating from Clarkston, Fife played basketball and baseball for the University of Michigan and continued to excel in both sports. He was a three-year starter on the University of Michigan men’s basketball team and was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1971 draft.

However, Fife decided to pursue baseball after college. In fact, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers twice, first in the 21st round of the 1967 MLB June amateur draft when he was 17 years old, and again in the second round of the 1971 MLB June draft-secondary phase when he was 21 years old.

Fife went on to make appearances in 14 total MLB games with the Minnesota Twins across the 1973 and 1974 seasons, finishing with a 3-2 record in 56.1 innings pitched.

Michigan basketball coach Johnny Orr hired Fife to be his assistant for just over four years. He was on staff for Michigan’s Final Four appearance in 1976. He sat on the opposite end of the court from coaching legends like Indiana’s Bobby Knight, a coach his son, Dane Fife, eventually played for.

Fife coached his sons Dane and Dugan Fife at Clarkston. Dugan finished runner-up in the 1992 Mr. Basketball voting while Dane won the award in 1998. Fife coached one more Mr. Basketball winner in his career as Foster Loyer won the award in 2018 while breaking many Clarkston records and being the star of both state championship teams coached by Fife.

After winning the Mr. Basketball award, Loyer shared his respect for Fife.

“It’s special to be labeled as someone with the Fife family that has meant so much to Clarkston over these past few years,” Loyer said. “Coach (Dan) Fife has done everything for that community and he’s really laid the foundation for a successful athletic program, not just basketball. Just to be a part of that conversation is a great feeling.”

Fife was also athletic director at Clarkston from the mid 90′s until leaving the position in 2016.

Fife had three sons with his wife, Janice, with Jeremy being between the eldest, Dugan, and the youngest, Dane.

Clarkston basketball’s X account posted a lengthy tribute to Fife on Thursday night.

“You were, and still are the best basketball coach in the state of Michigan,” a portion of the statement read. “From coaching your own kids, to remembering every kid’s name in our McGrath Basketball league for years, to coaching your former players’ kids, your impact will be felt for generations. More importantly, your love for Jan, Dugan, Jeremy, and Dane are something to be admired. Family was always #1 for you, and you poured your heart and soul into them. We will always continue to Play Hard, Play Smart, and Play Together! We love you and miss you Coach Fife.”