Local Sports

Ultimate honor

Crouch proud of his accomplishments, admits it takes a team

HOUGHTON -- In May, former Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes football coach Andy Crouch was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame in Marquette. For Crouch, it truly was a lifetime achievement award.

"First of all, it’s the ultimate honor as a Yooper," he said. "As somebody that follows sports, that’s the pinnacle of being recognized. Secondly, it’s more of a reflection of the people that I worked with, and the kids who were bought into what we were trying to teach them over the years. It’s a reflection of the teammates, the great teammates that I got to play with on those great teams. So, ultimate honor, but I’m looking at it as more as an honor for everybody that I was able to be involved with."

Crouch was the head coach at Lake Linden from 2002-19, finishing with a record of 120-57. His teams made the playoffs 13 times over those 17 years. But more than the wins and losses, Crouch could measure his impact on the lives of the players he coached.

"I take great pride in that," he said. "I think the thing that gets me the most with it, when you look back on it, is that as these young men get older now into their adulthood, they’re inviting you to their weddings, and they want to sit around and have a beer with you. That, to me, tells me that it meant something to those kids, too, and I take great pride in that."

He was twice named U.P. Coach of the Year. He was a head coach for the U.P. All-Star Football Game three times. He saw 45 players earn All-U.P. recognition, with eight of those ending up on the Dream Team. Five of them earned Defensive Player of the Year, and four were named Offensive Player of the Year.

Being a coach at Lake Linden is a different experience from coaching at Houghton or even Calumet. With the small school size, Crouch took comfort in really knowing each of the kids he dealt with.

"I think I’m related to everybody to begin with," he said with a smile. "If I’m not, (they are on) my wife’s side. We’re a small community, that’s for sure. But, it was (also) hard. With the numbers we had, I think the most we ever had on a team was maybe 19. So, it also provided an opportunity for kids to play that might not get to play at a bigger school."

He noted the large amounts of willingness by his players to buy into what he and his staff were asking of the players.

"Then the fact that those kids just bought into what we were trying to accomplish, they took pride in what they were doing," he said. "Tough kids, I think that’s the culture of our school at Lake Linden was, it’s a blue collar school. You had to work for everything you got. I think for those kids, that translated well for having success. When you have kids that are willing to buy into what you’re trying to teach them."

As a player before becoming a coach, Crouch was a star athlete at Lake Linden. He was All-U.P. and All-State defensive back, and an All-Conference quarterback for the Lakes in 1991, when they finished as the state runner-up in Class DD. He was also a member of the Class D state runner-up team.

Crouch admits that at that time, the players took the consistent success of Lakes football almost for granted.

"I was fortunate during the Stone Age, when I was a player, to see that our program was building into one of the powerhouses in the state," he said. "Quite frankly, I think we kind of took it for granted. Like, this is just the way it’s supposed to be, right? Coaches (Neil) Artley and (Russ) Laurin and (Ron) Warner had built such a program that, as a youngster, that’s all you knew. You had the expectations that you had to carry that on.

"I think, to some degree, our kids, when I took over as head coach, they saw that, right? They had heard the stories. They were the little kids in the end zone playing football during those days. That just translated well. It was the type of kid, really, that was the big reason why we had the successes that we did."

Despite all the success Crouch found as a head coach, he never truly felt he settled into the role.

"I don’t know if I ever got to that," he said. "I think you look back on it and I go, 'Man, I wish I could go back to when I first started and slap myself upside the head for what we did.' I think if you ever think that you’re doing it the right way, you’re probably not going to have the success. I think you always have to grow with that.

"There was a lot of growth when we were younger. I know when Jamie Koskela and I both took over, like, we did stuff that now you look back and like, 'Why would we ever even think that would work?' But that’s part of anything you do in life, trial and error. I don’t think, as a coach, you ever get comfortable with what you’re doing. And if you do, I think the game will pass you by."

One other thing that Crouch got to do later in his career at Lake Linden, was coach his son Carter.

"That was good and bad," Crouch said. "It was something that you look forward to because again, my kids were the ones that were around programs their whole lives, and they got to be the little kid, the managers, and look up to those heroes. I remember my son in particular when Brett (Gervais) was coming through, that was his hero, wanted to wear his number, things like that.

"It made for some stressful rides home. If anyone ever thought that my son or my daughter got the benefit of being the coach’s kid, they’re sorely mistaken. I always tell people the best thing that ever happened is when my son got a driver’s license and didn’t have to ride home for practice with dad. But, it was good. Both my kids had great successes there. As a parent, you’re proud and glad that they did it in the culture that you were a part of."

These days, Crouch helps out the Michigan Tech football team as a volunteer assistant coach.