Before Muskegon football players board the bus for an away game, they gather at the 50-yard line at Muskegon’s venerable Hackley Stadium.
There, coach Shane Fairfield says a few words for the players to think about on their way to the game.
That was the case a few weeks ago, when the Big Reds were ready to board the bus that would take them to Ford Field and the Division 2 state championship game.
Fairfield, 55,’s message this time was simple:
“We grow up together, we leave here together, we play together, we stay together, and we come back together. We have to be unbreakable.”
[ Sign up forour Michigan Preps newsletter for high school sports news, directly in your inbox ]
This was Fairfield’s ninth trip to Ford Field as head coach, and his team posted a 1-7 record.
It didn’t look promising early for the Big Reds as they faced defending champion Warren De La Salle, who crushed Muskegon, 40-28, in Week 2.
“We were down 21-7,” Fairfield said. “But we refused to be broken.”
Instead, Muskegon rallied for a 33-21 win over De La Salle to capture the Division 2 state title and earn the Free Press Dream Team All-State Coach of the Year Award.
Mark it:Detroit High School Sports Awards are back for 2024: Here’s what to know
Fairfield did not take the usual path to training.
After graduating from Muskegon Heights, he took a job at Meijer to help support his sick mother, brother and sister. In 1991 he began coaching junior varsity soccer at Muskegon Catholic Central, later becoming head coach of the junior varsity team.
He began working at the local YMCA and eventually became a building superintendent and certified youth sports coordinator.
He joined Tony Annis’ staff at Muskegon High School in 1999 before leaving in 2003 to begin a 5-year tenure as head coach at Holton.
Fairfield returned to Muskegon in 2008 and became the head coach in 2010.
In 14 seasons he became the second-leading coach in school history with a 154-29 record.
Once he started training, Fairfield didn’t want to stop. It’s not about the wins and losses that keep him in the job.
“It’s 100% relationships,” he said. “I always say besides giving birth to my child, there is nothing else more exciting or anything I would rather do than be in that field with them on that day and in their lives.”
Growing up, Fairfield had more in common with his players than many people think. This is another reason to train him.
“It gives me a purpose, it gives me a meaning to achieve it,” he said. “It’s a way to give back. I don’t want to get into a sob story or anything like that, but I don’t have a father growing up trying to find someone to latch onto and be that guy that will hopefully fill that spot in the lives of some of these young men.”
“And to be a good father and an inspiration to my daughter. These are the reasons I get out of bed and go to work every day. “My daughters inspire me.”
This year, the Big Reds started the season 0-2, losing to Rockford and De La Salle.
The team was at a crossroads when quarterback M’Khi Guy and running back Destin Piggee addressed the team after the second loss.
“Makhi said something and Biggie said something after that second week and the tears were real — that disappointment was real,” Fairfield said. “‘Hey, that was a huge letdown, this wasn’t how we were meant to be.’ And after that, everything was fine.”
It came down to the first half of the state championship game, when the Big Reds trailed 21-7 at halftime.
“They got three points out of their first four possessions, so we were playing really good defense,” Fairfield said. “We knew that if we corrected our mistakes and stayed on their side of the 50 and turned the field over at times, we would have a chance. Certainly, we thought we should win this game.”
They won that game, which was the 900th victory in school history, and the most in state history.
the team:Michigan high school football: 2023 Free Press All-Detroit team
The 900th win helped ease the pain of previous Ford Field losses.
“I was there for their 2008 game and it was a great feeling,” Fairfield said. “I was there in 2017 after losing four times and it was amazing. Every team has a different meaning and this team was like the first team again.
Recent Winners: Free Press Dream Team Coach of the Year
2022: Herb Brogan, Jackson Lumen Christi
2021: Tyrone Spencer, Detroit King
Mick McCabe is a former columnist for the Detroit Free Press. Call him on mick.mccabe11@gmail.com. Follow him @mickmccabe1. Save $10 on his new book, “Mick McCabe’s Golden Yearbook: 50 Remarkable Years of Michigan’s Best High School Players, Teams and Memories,” by ordering now at McCabe.PictorialBook.com.
Shane Fairfield has proven himself to be a formidable force in the world of high school football coaching, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed. As the recipient of the 2023 Michigan High School Football Coach of the Year award, Fairfield’s dedication, skill, and leadership have garnered praise and recognition from his peers and players alike. With a track record of success on the field and a commitment to developing young athletes both athletically and personally, Shane Fairfield stands as a shining example of excellence in high school football coaching.