Capac grad guides team to 240 wins
CAPAC — Tom Keller, a 1992 graduate of Capac High School, wrapped up a lengthy run as the Frankenmuth varsity girls’ basketball coach recently.
He stepped down from the post after spending 14 years in the position following the completion of the 2019-20 campaign.
During his time there, Keller guided the school to a 242-80 mark. That represents a formidable winning clip of 75.2 percent. His teams won 11 Tri-Valley Conference East Division titles, seven district championships and seven regional titles along the way.
“ I have been incredibly blessed to have been the girls’ coach for the past 14 seasons,” Keller acknowledged. “We have had some really good players during those years that have made my job a lot easier,” he noted.
“To win 11 straight league championships when you know every team in our league is gunning for us is a pretty special accomplishment. The district championships were all great to be a part of as well, but this last one was even better as I was able to share it with both of my daughters who were on the team.”
He admitted the end of the season was a bit unusual.
“We had just won our Division 2 regional semifinal against Portland and were really excited to play against Freeland in the finals (they had beaten us twice this season by a few points),” Keller said. “The team was ready but we didn’t get the opportunity to play for the regional crown,” he noted.
“However, there aren’t many coaches that can claim their team won the last game that they coached in, so I guess that’s a positive in all of this.”
Keller is just the fifth coach Frankenmuth varsity girls’ basketball has had, dating back to 1973. He ranks second on their All-Time wins list behind Art Peltzer.
Frankenmuth had gone 19-5 during the 2019-20 campaign. when the remainder of the season was called off due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
