Legendary Coach Holowicki Wraps Up Final Camp
August 01,
2008
LIVONIA, Mich. - -After
34 summers of orange drink, munchkin donuts, long hours on black-top courts and
thousands upon thousands of happy campers laughing at his jokes, legendary
Detroit-area high school basketball coach and former Madonna University head man
Bernie Holowicki is hanging up his whistle with the close of camp today
at Madonna.
The
All-Star Basketball Camp was founded by Holowicki while he was coaching at
Detroit Catholic Central High School and the tradition continued here at MU when
he became the head coach in 1995. While the camp will continue each summer
under the direction of current head coach Chuck Henry, the
legendary face to the camp will be missing.
Through 30 plus years as one
of the most respected and accomplished high school coaches in the state of
Michigan, Holowicki built a reputation as a tireless worker and impeccable
instructor of the game. Those qualities prompted Madonna to bring on Holowicki
in 1995.
“I think that Coach is the
best at running camps,” said former camper, current counselor and former Madonna
basketball captain Charlie Henry. “I’ve been to other camps growing up
and there is no one who had the energy, the personal touch or cared as much
about the kids as coach did. Every day every drill he tried to do everything he
could for the kids. He’s a teacher at heart and he’s awesome at what he does.”
Prior to his days at Madonna,
Holowicki posted legendary numbers as a high school coach in Michigan at Detroit
Catholic Central High School. Holowicki earned the bulk of his 612 career
victories with the Shamrocks, good for third all-time among Michigan high school
coaches. He also coached at St. Hedwig, St. Gregory and De La Salle. In
addition, he coached conference, district, regional and state championship
teams, including his 1976 squad which brought home the state crown. He boasts a
.779 career winning percentage and has received numerous awards.
Holowicki was named coach of
the year nine different times. In 1986, he was named Midwest Basketball Coach of
the Year by the National High School Coaches Association. He is also a member of
the Detroit Catholic League Hall of Fame.
“I’ve known Coach for over
half of my life and during the past 16 years I have had the pleasure to work for
him at CC, along side him here at camp and with him in my current role here at
MU,” said former ABC counselor and current Madonna Sports Information Director
Patrick Moore. “You learn so much from coach and it’s not just about
basketball, it’s about life. He teaches young people the ‘right way’ of doing
things. You see it with the people who went to his camp 30 years ago who are now
sending children of their own to camp. Coach is a legend across the country in
basketball circles and camp and MU won’t be the same with out him.”
During his tenure as the head
coach at Madonna, the Crusaders posted a 64-178 record in eight seasons.
Holowicki and the Crusaders enjoyed their most successful season to date in
2002-03 when the team posted a 14-16 overall record. The team featured wins over
two top-10 nationally ranked teams and the programs first ever first team
all-conference selections. Health concerns forced the legendary high school and
collegiate coach to take a lesser role with the Crusaders following the 2003-04
season.
In addition to his coaching
duties with the Crusaders, Holowicki is a staff member for the world-renounced
Five Star Basketball Camps, conducting several clinics throughout the year. He
has also produced a series of instructional videos on various topics.
On behalf of the thousands of local
children, your former counselors and the Madonna community, "Thanks Coach."
Contact:
Patrick Moore, Sports Information Director
(734) 432-5834
pimoore@madonna.edu
