Document text
Click Here 44 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, February 2, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 16, 2004 Where are they now? Mike Glines Crater High School 1963 By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Mike Glines is an old-school football coach with a little flash mixed in. The Medford native and Crater High graduate recently won his second straight mythical state championship in California when his Central Catholic Raiders of Modesto completed a second straight 13- 0 season. Glines, who graduated from Crater in 1963 as the school’s student-body president and star athlete, has posted a staggering 158-24-3 record in 19 seasons at Central Catholic. Only one other coach in California prep football history with 150 or more career wins can top his 86-percent winning ledger. Advertisement What’s his secret? "No secrets," shrugs Glines, 59, who has had two coaching stints at Central Catholic with a stint at Modesto Junior College mixed in-between. "Just a lot of hard work on the practice field and getting the kids, the parents and the fans involved." Glines might be exaggerating a bit when he says he runs only six plays, but suffice it to say his offenses win few sophistication contests. "We never get to the second play until the first one is perfected," says Glines, stating what legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vine Lombardi might have said. "Sometimes that takes one day; other times two weeks. "And we don’t use a bunch of numbers and names for our plays. Toss left is toss left, and slot right is slot right." While Glines’ basic approach to the game is simplistic, he brings a flair to football that few coaches can match. Each game, three fathers of his players serve as captains and are allowed to walk the sidelines, with an agreement they’ll speak to the booster club about their experience the following week. Three minutes before the team leaves its locker room — which is embellished with carpet and a jukebox — any alumni at the game are invited in. And when the team begins running out of a tunnel and onto the field, a half-dozen fire extinguishers shoot out a fog that envelops the Central Catholic players. "We like to win, but we also like to have a good time," Glines says. Glines was born in Medford and attended Jackson Elementary School and McLoughlin Middle School. His family then moved to a home off Hanley Road, which put him in the Crater district. His starred in football, basketball and baseball for the Comets. His favorite coach was Lloyd Hoffine, who tutored him on the hardwood. "I’m going on 60 years old, and to this day I lean on what he taught me," Glines says. "He was a perfectionist, and if you did something wrong, it didn’t matter if you scored 30 points — your a— was out. "He was a real inspiration in my life." Glines’ biggest rival was Dan Miles, who starred at Medford High and is now the head basketball coach at Oregon Tech. "We went toe-to-toe through junior high and high school," Glines says. "But he was a great guy. We roomed together at the Shrine Game." Glines himself went to Oregon Tech and later spent three years in Vietnam as a paratrooper and foot soldier. He was shot in the right shoulder, leaving him partially disabled. Glines was never the same athlete after that, but his prowess as a coach was just beginning. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times