Clyde’s Corner

Michigan high school coaches welcome basketball coach Phil Hora to Hall of Fame

by Clyde Whitaker

Hello again, everyone! I have some GREAT news to share with all of you. On Sept. 17, basketball coach Phil Hora was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame!

The induction ceremony was held in the Bovee Center on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.

As a captain on the 1973 team, I can tell you that all of us who played for Coach Hora knew he was one of the best coaches ever!

Coach Hora coached from 1967-1989—21 years—all at Stockbridge High School. He compiled a record of 354-117, which is a 75% winning percentage, unbelievable!

His accomplishments include: 10 League Championships, nine District Championships, five Regional Championships, three Final Four appearances and one State Finals appearance runner-up.

Coach Hora coached many fine players over the years. Perhaps one of the best was Jesse Campbell, a two-time All-American.

Other highlights of his career include:

• Seven-time Coach of the Year in Ingham County.
• (1971) Detroit Free Press Dream Team Coach of the Year.
• (1971) Detroit News Coach of the Year.
• (1976) Lansing State Journal Coach of the Year.
• (1978) Michigan High School Coaches Association of Michigan Regional Coach of the Year.
• (1986) Honored by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan for 300 wins.
• (2023) Michigan High School Coaches Association of Michigan—inducted into Hall of Fame.

It was a thrill and an honor to be there at the induction ceremony to see Coach receive his long overdue recognition for a fabulous career. He will never be forgotten. He put Stockbridge basketball on the map. What a run, Coach!

1970s-era Stockbridge basketball coach Phil Hora is inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame on September 17.

The MHSCA representative presents Hora with his Hall of Fame plaque.

Coach Hora addresses attendees at the MHSCA Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Central Michigan University.

Top row, far right: Coach Hora pictured with 7 of the 13 total 2023 Hall of Fame coaches on September 17.

Hora’s wife, Angela, and he share some thoughts with the MHSCA representative who presented Hora with his plaque.

Coach Hora poses with some of his players from back in the day. Pictured (l-r): Todd Dickinson, Tom Dickinson, Clyde Whitaker, Coach Hora, Shannon Curtis, Brian White, and Charlie Curtis.

Coach Hora accepting congratulations from members of his family.

Angela and Coach Hora with good friends Sharon and Ted Levand.

Coach Hora poses with his longtime friend Lorne Marshall (left) and former player Clyde Whitaker (right).

Clyde Whitaker is a 1973 Stockbridge graduate. He and his wife, Mary, raised four children in Stockbridge, and they still reside in the Stockbridge area.