Being a Hall of Famer could soon become old hat for Oxford resident Wallace Liley.
On April 16, the former Lake Orion teacher and coach was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. In 2001, Liley became a member of the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.
He said he found out about the latest honor this past December.
‘One of the gentleman on the committee called me,? Liley said. ‘There is a building being built at the University of Michigan for the Football Hall of Fame.?
Liley coached baseball for 30 years and football for 26 years in Lake Orion, and coached football for two years as a varsity assistant in Dryden.
‘I coached mostly in the junior high, freshman and seventh and eighth-grade teams,? he said.
On April 16, a ceremony was held at U-M’s Chrysler Arena for the Football Coaches Hall of Fame honorees.
‘That’s the first time I’ve been there,? Liley said of Chrysler. ‘I’ll probably get a plaque, that’s what they did for baseball.?
Liley, who retired from Lake Orion Schools in 1995, was a junior high American History and social studies teacher for most of his career.
Asked if he was surprised about his latest induction, he said ‘I had an inkling something was up.?
‘You never know when it’s going to happen though,? he said, adding that he was surprised when he found out he was being inducted for baseball in 2001.
Liley said he believes being a good coach is a natural extension of being a good teacher.
‘Most excellent coaches are excellent teachers,? he said.
Liley said he does miss coaching, and does keep in touch with some of his former players.
‘Chris Bell played for me,? he said. ‘I got a real nice letter from him, congratulating me. He said I touched his life.?
Liley said he wrote Bell back and told him that players are what make or break a coach, and that he was lucky to have excellent players such as Bell.
‘I also coached Jim Manzo and Steve Roberts,? said Liley. ‘It does my heart good that I had some connection.?