The Michigan High School Coaches’ Association (MHSCA) has selected Michael J. Roach, Mstg. from Pennfield High School for induction into the Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place in the Terrace Room of the Bovee University Center on the campus of Central Michigan University at 1:00pm on September 17, 2023. Tickets to attend the event will be available on July 1—September 10, 2023 on the MHSCA.org website.
Michael J. Roach, Msgt. USAF Retired, enters the MHSAA Hall of Fame having coached for twenty-two seasons. Mike began his coaching career at Pennfield High School as the head coach of the girls and the boys bowling coach from 2003-2021. He also served as an assistant JV baseball coach at Pennfield High School from 2005-2006. From 2021-2023 he has been the head boys varsity and JV bowling coach at Marshall High School. The “high expectations he demanded of the student-athletes and the overall structure of his program,”made for very successful teams. While Mike was head coach at Pennfield High School the girls varsity bowling team earned two Southwest 8 Conference titles, three Interstate 8 Conference Titles, five MHSAA Regional Championships, were one time MHSAA State Runners Up (2011), and were one time MHSAA State Champions (2013). The Pennfield High School girls varsity bowling win-loss record was 155-60. The Pennfield High School boys varsity bowling team was equally impressive with one Conference Championship, two MHSAA Regional Titles, were one time NHSAA State Runners Up (2016) and were two time MHSAA State Champions (2017, 2018). The Pennfield High School boys varsity bowling win-loss record was 164-83-2. Mike had seven MHSAA All State Individuals, four MHSAA Individual State Champions, and one MHSAA Individual Runners Up. Several of his elite athletes earned special recognition including; James Ruoff – Dream Team Mr. Bowler 2019, Kyle Roach – Dream Team 2004, Loretta Hinds – Dream Team 2013. Three of his student athletes went on to compete at the collegiate level including; Loretta Hinds – Olivet College, James Ruoff – Aquinas College, and Kelsey Kipp – Kellogg Community College.
Over the years Coach Roach has been honored for his accomplishments and his commitment to his sport and student athletes. He was named the Michigan High School Interscholastic Bowling Coaches Association (MHSIBCA) Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2017, the Detroit Free Press Coach of the Year in 2018, the NFHS Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2019, and in 2014 he was inducted into the MHSIBCA Hall of Fame. Mike is also the only bowling coach to win three of four State Championships in one year (2017), the only bowling coach to win both singles State Championships in one year (2017), and was the first bowling coach to win a State Championship, move up a Division and repeat as State Champions.
Mike has been very active in a number of associations to support his sport. He has been the 2nd Vice President of the MHSIBCA for four years, 1st Vice President for nine years, on the Awards Committee for ten years, chairman of the Awards Committee for nine years, and a member of the Ranking Committee for ten years. He was a USBC Board member from 2013-2015, and a member of the Eagles Bowling League Grievance Committee.
The MHSCA is a 67-year old association with nearly 12,000 members representing 18 sport related associations was founded on the campus of Central Michigan University in 1954. The Hall of Fame is located in the Student Activities Center.