Trenton Coach Gets 600th Win, Becomes 2nd Winningest Hockey Coach in MHSAA History

At 600 wins, Trenton High School hockey head coach Mike Turner is the second winningest hockey coach in the history of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA). But don't tell him that.

To Turner, Saturday's 4-3 win against Traverse City Central High School was just another opportunity to help Trenton students get better on and off the ice.

"Nobody goes into coaching and sets goals for themselves," Turner said. "Nobody goes into coaching and says, 'I want to win so many championships. I wanna hit milestone marks.' Nobody does that, because that's pretty selfish."

Turner admitted the closer he got to 600 wins, the more he began thinking about hitting that particular milestone in his career, which is 27 seasons as Trenton's head coach--spanning over 40 years.

Trenton has won ten state championships and four runner ups with Turner at the helm including his first in 1976, which was just the second state championship on record for the MHSAA, during his second year as head coach.

The MHSAA officially recognized ice hockey as a sport during the 1974-75 season.

Turner credits the City of Trenton's knack for drawing talented young hockey players as a huge part of his success.

"I don't think they're (parents of young athletes) drawn to me," Turner said. "I think they're drawn to the city. The school system. And, that we have an outstanding athletic department. I just was fortunate to be in this situation as head coach."

Turner trails just one coach for most wins ever in Michigan high school hockey; former head coach Ron Baum of East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, MI. Baum retired with 623 wins.

With just three games left in the regular season, the soonest Turner could take the title would be during the 2013-14 school year.

Still unwilling to set a personal goal for himself, Turner wouldn't say if he plans to break the record and become the MHSAA's winningest hockey coach of all time.

"I'm already 63 (years old), Turner said. "It's hard for me to maneuver out on the ice and stay out of the way of the players. So, I really believe when it just gets too hard to do anymore, then that's enough."

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