Has passed away at his Jackson, Mich. home early Thursday morning. He was 84.
A 1987 inductee to the Michigan Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and a 2009 inductee to the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame, Stephens coached Elgin to a 90-80-2 record, three Upstate Eight Conference titles and five playoff appearances in two stints over 18 years: 1969-1977 and 1987-1995.
In 1997 he became the first head coach at Bartlett, where his teams went 27-22 in five seasons.
Stephens stepped down as Bartlett coach in 2001 after he suffered a heart attack Following a year off he returned to the sideline at Western High School in Jackson, Mich. and coached four more seasons.
Coach Stephens then came back to Bartlett and spent six more years as an assistant coach on Coach Tom Meaney's staff until he was 80.
His 90 wins at Elgin remain the school's record. The 1977 Maroons team finished 10-1 and set a school record for wins that still stands. That team reached a state quarterfinal, the deepest playoff run in program history.
His overall coaching record between Athens (Mich.), Battle Creek Springfield (Mich.), Elgin, Bartlett and Western was 211-203-2.
It's been said Coach Stephens was able to adjust as a coach throughout his career. He could still relate to kids even though he was old enough to be their grandfather. He was able to motivate kids because he cared about them and they knew that.
He will be missed....
A 1987 inductee to the Michigan Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame and a 2009 inductee to the Elgin Sports Hall of Fame, Stephens coached Elgin to a 90-80-2 record, three Upstate Eight Conference titles and five playoff appearances in two stints over 18 years: 1969-1977 and 1987-1995.
In 1997 he became the first head coach at Bartlett, where his teams went 27-22 in five seasons.
Stephens stepped down as Bartlett coach in 2001 after he suffered a heart attack Following a year off he returned to the sideline at Western High School in Jackson, Mich. and coached four more seasons.
Coach Stephens then came back to Bartlett and spent six more years as an assistant coach on Coach Tom Meaney's staff until he was 80.
His 90 wins at Elgin remain the school's record. The 1977 Maroons team finished 10-1 and set a school record for wins that still stands. That team reached a state quarterfinal, the deepest playoff run in program history.
His overall coaching record between Athens (Mich.), Battle Creek Springfield (Mich.), Elgin, Bartlett and Western was 211-203-2.
It's been said Coach Stephens was able to adjust as a coach throughout his career. He could still relate to kids even though he was old enough to be their grandfather. He was able to motivate kids because he cared about them and they knew that.
He will be missed....
