By David Fleet
Editor
Goodrich —The Martians coaches were honored this past week with four selected as Varsity Coaches of the year.
Tom Alward, football; Al Warden, cross country; Evan Huizenga, boys soccer and Lloyd Walter, girls golf. The Citizen Alward and Warden in today’s edition with Huizenga and Walter next weekend.
A Flint Metro League Football title, a 8-1 winning record and a 2022 home playoff game.
Now a stellar season just got better for veteran Martian Football Coach Tom Alward.
Last week Alward, upping the teams to a 178-110 overall record in 30 seasons was named Flint Metro League Coach of the Year.
“We have a unique group of kids here at Goodrich, they are hard working and play with grit,” said Alward. “Since the end of last season, this team just brings it. And if we continue to play hard this season we’ll keep rolling. Coaching here at Goodrich is all about working with kids, great coaches, and this community. It’s all about relationships. We are having fun.”
Alward was an assistant JV football coach at Flint Central High School from 1977-84 and went on to be assistant varsity football coach at Bendel High School from 1985-89. His first season in Goodrich was 1993.
“The first game I coached at Goodrich was in the fall of 1993 against Bentley High School,” said Alward. “We lost 20-0, we did not do very well. It bothered me, it was my first go around and the loss hurt. We then had a 2-7 season followed by a 2-7 record in my second year. But the third year we went 9-2 and qualified for the playoffs.”
Alward won his 100th game with Goodrich at the start of the 2010 season.
After playing for the University of Nebraska, Alward played professional football in Birmingham, Ala. and for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I played one season as offensive guard for Tampa Bay, the season they went 0-14,” he said. “The next season they released me and I had a chance to play for the Atlanta Falcons. But I went back home and in 1976 started coaching Central High School in Flint.”
He was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2011.
He coached the Martians league titles in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2019 and recently 2022.
Coach Al Warden
Painted on the floor of the Goodrich Middle School pavilion is the entire course of the Michigan Cross Country where the state championships are held, at Michigan International Speedway, located in Brooklyn.
“Each day in the fall the Goodrich Cross Country team, walk, sit, stand and see that course at MIS ,” said Cross Country Coach Al Warden.
Coach Warden motivation and leadership was recognized recently when he was named 2022 Flint Metro Coach of the Year.
“You could never do what we accomplished alone,” said Warden. “Sometimes we disagree but in the end the goal never changes.”
A California native and 30 year U.S. Navy veteran, Warden along with wife Jo moved to Michigan in 1993. For 16 years Warden worked as a consultant for GM then served as a Goodrich Middle School para pro.
“I then almost retired,” laughed Warden.
In 2007 Warden assisted then track and cross country coach Jennifer Sweet.
“At that time discussions were ongoing with Goodrich AD Al Martus regarding a Middle School track and cross country team,” said Warden. “Coach Sweet and I would trade off running the practice while the other went to the meet.”
Later on middle school along with elementary school running programs were developed and now serves as feeder programs for the high school varsity teams.
“We are now blessed with talent at it shows,” said Warden.
Each June Warden leads anywhere from eight to 30 athletes to Top Hill Farms who allows the students to run in some challenging terrain.
“During the summer months runners along with soccer, volleyball and other players show up for a workout,” he said. “There’s no formal practice, no penalty for not showing up just a great practice for the upcoming seasons. The parents of the kids are amazing, they come and provide support.”