Royal Oak's Brian Gordon Elected to Michigan Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame

Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Brian Gordon has been elected to the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame and will be inducted along with four other coaches at the MHSBCA East-West All-Star Banquet in Chesterfield Township tonight.

"It's pretty cool," Gordon said of the honor this afternoon before heading to the banquet. "There's about 190 people in the baseball coaches Hall of Fame, so to be included in the top 200 coaches in Michigan baseball history is great. I'm humbled and I'm proud."

Gordon made sure to give credit to those he's worked with over the years. "I certainly couldn't have done this without the help and support of the great players and coaches and family,"  he said. "I had a lot of great mentors over the years, too." In fact, one of those mentors, longtime Royal Oak Kimball baseball coach Frank Clouser, will be attending tonight's banquet with Gordon and his family.

Gordon has been a coach in Royal Oak for 20 years, compiling a 311-189 record with five district championship titles, one regional title and a quarter finalist while leading ROHS baseball teams. The MHSBCA named Gordon Regional Coach of the Year in 2000 and 2007 and District Coach of the Year seven times.

"I always tried to do my best and give my all for Royal Oak," Gordon said.

Gordon joined Royal Oak Schools in 1991 as a teacher. He coached basketball and football at various levels, JV baseball for five years and then served as the head baseball coach for the past 15 seasons before taking the administrative position at ROHS. The 2010-11 school year was the first Gordon has not coached. He has also assisted the school district in coordinating various initiatives within the health and physical education department since 2006.

The graduate of Central Michigan University holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Wayne State University.

According to Mario Borrocci, chairman of the East-West All-Star game, the 2011 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches’ Association  Hall of Fame inductees are:

• Robert W. Gast, Sexton High School, Lansing
• Brian Gordon, Royal Oak High School
• Bob Kreszyn, Trenton High School
• Dick VanderKamp, Grand Rapids Christian
• Randy Weber, Glen Lake High School, Maple City

All five men will be recognized at the All-Star game Tuesday at Comerica Park in Detroit.