Nate Schneider
Sports Scene
Not lost by Ithaca head coach Terry Hessbrook in defeat after the D6 state title game was the opposing coach for Jackson Lumen Christi in Herb Brogan, who is the fifth-winningest coach in MHSAA history with 343 career victories.
“Herb Brogan is a class act,” Hessbrook said before any question about Brogan was prompted by media.
Once he was asked about matching wits with Brogan in the Yellowjackets’ 40-34 loss to the Titans at Ford Field, Hessbrook had plenty more to add.
“We took it as a great challenge,” Hessbrook said about his team facing a team coached by an all-time MHSAA great. “Our coaching staff talked about it in our staff meeting about embracing this opportunity. One of the winningest coaches and a true legend. He told me he’s been there for 38 years as the head coach and 47 or some odd years total. It’s just amazing. So we embraced that opportunity and looked forward to the challenge of going against them. For a little while we were able to play with them. We just didn’t have enough.”
Brogan has a career record of 343-82 and this is the eighth state championship he has won at Jackson Lumen Christi since taking over the program in 1980.