In his head, Kelly Luplow knows this is the right time.
But his heart, the one he used to lead 34 varsity football teams at Clare High School, remains unconvinced.
Luplow, who compiled a 251-95 record in 34 seasons as the head coach at Clare High School, announced his retirement to his players Thursday, ending an era at the Jack Pine Conference school.
“People said you’ll know when it’s time, and it feels right,” Luplow said. “But I don’t know if it’s right or not. I’ve been thinking about it for two or three years, and I know I have good reasons.
“I want to do some other things. I know it’s the right time, but I know I’m going to miss the heck out of it.”
Luplow, 67, led the Pioneers to 20 Jack Pine Conference titles, 24 playoff appearances, four district championships and two regional titles. He led Clare to one state final appearance in 2009.
“He was a legend in Clare,” Clare athletic director Rob Wise said. “He impacted a lot of lives that’s for sure. What was always impressive was how much he cared for his players. But he always said that tradition never graduates. He’s always going to be a part of the school, the community, the football program … we expect his tradition to continue.”
The 2009 team gave him his lone state-final appearance, rattling off 13 consecutive wins to reach the Division 5 state final before falling to Jackson Lumen Christi, 42-7.
“Lups developed relationships with players outside of the football field,” said Kyle Kolbe, who starred at quarterback at Clare and Northwood University. “He generally cared about everybody that walked through that program. Whether it was a star player or somebody who would never get on the field, he wanted them to be successful. He cared enough to give them the time that they needed to be successful.”
Luplow started trends that became commonplace, like weightlifting.
“Back when he started, he was a believer in weightlifting before it was the cool thing to do,” Wise said. “It wasn’t that common back when he started. He challenged kids to make themselves better.”
And he also an early proponent of visualization.
“What set Lups apart is the things he taught us outside of football,” Kolbe said. “He made people buy into the process of preparation, visualizing yourself being successful. If you have negative thoughts in your mind, you can’t be successful.
“That was always something people would give him a funny look about, until you grasped it. It was powerful. It’s something I continue to tell kids I coach and my own kids. People didn’t talk about things like that 20, 30 years ago. But it was part of our process. We always went out with the confidence that we were the most-prepared team. He put us in positions to mentally and physically succeed.”
Luplow’s favorite team, however, probably wasn’t Kolbe’s teams from 2003 through 2006. And it probably wasn’t the 2009 state finalist. Or the 2000 team that went to the state semifinals before losing to Whittemore-Prescott.
“My fourth year as head coach, 1990, we were 1-8, and it might have been one of the most fun years I’ve ever had,” Luplow said. “We were 1-8, but we were in every game. We were close in every game.
“After every game, the guys came off the field just bawling. They’d come back Monday and bust their fannies only to lose Friday. They put their heart and soul into that season. I told them I wasn’t going to shave until we won. In the seventh game, we got a pick-6 to win the game. I got to shave. It was a great moment.”
And his favorite players weren’t necessarily his best players, although Kolbe ranks among the best. And coaching his son Brent Luplow remains one of his favorite memories.
But there were also players like Dan Yats.
“Coaching your own son is a great experience, and Kolbe was a favorite not just because we won games with him,” Luplow said. “He’s the kind of guy you love to coach. Never missed a day of anything. Outlifted most of our linemen. In camp, he’d be the first guy at each station. The total effort was just phenomenal.
“But in 2009, we had a lot of guys and a lot of talent, so there were guys who didn’t get on the field who would have played in most years. But they hung on and kept playing and practicing. Dan Yats was one of those guys.
“He was a little guy, and it seemed like every time he got on the field, he got a concussion. But he was such an inspirational guy for our team. He would do the pre-game prayer chant. He was as excited to win as any of the guys on the field. Just a champion in every way.”
Which is why it was hard for Luplow to walk away. And it’s why he, at times, questions if it’s the right move.
“It’s not always about winning … it’s about if you can get your guys to buy in,” Luplow said. “If you care about your players, show them you love them, they’ll do everything you ask of them. That’s so important to coaching, and I don’t think a lot of coaches understand that.
“There’s not a lot of difference in the Xs and Os. Everybody has them. But if you get kids to believe in it, you can do great things. The players truly know when you care about them.”
Luplow expects to direct more of his attention to his immediate family. Luplow, who attended McBrite Elementary in Saginaw before moving to Clare with his family, will spend more time with his wife, Christine Luplow, who was Christine Jaime when she was named SS. Peter & Paul’s homecoming queen in 1974.
“My family has sacrificed for me for 40 years,” Luplow said. “My kids sacrificed for all those years, although probably wouldn’t change anything. They sill sacrificed for me. My wife took it all on so I could coach. She’s a trooper. It’s time for me to follow my kids.”
That might mean plenty of trips to Livingston County. Brent Luplow is the offensive coordinator for the Brighton High School football team, while Reyna Luplow will take over the Hartland girls basketball program.
“I’m excited for him to spend more time with his three kids,” Kolbe said. “I know it’s something he’s looking forward to. He has as much passion for his kids coaching as he does for Clare football. His family is such a great legacy.”
Jillian Luplow is a volleyball coach in Farwell and a kindergarten teacher in Alma. On Friday nights, she would text her dad, “Good luck Daddy! Love you.”
Now, “Daddy” may have to start texting his children/coaches.
“Someone told me I might as well take up residency in Livingston County,” said Luplow, who graduated from Clare High School and Central Michigan University. “I will be supporting them. It’s funny because it was such a hard decision, but when I told the players, it felt like the weight of the world coming off my shoulders. I hope that continues.”
Meanwhile, the Clare football program is faced with replacing a coach who spent 40 years on the sideline, 35 as the varsity head coach. He was also inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
“We have a staff that’s been together a long, long time,” Wise said. “Some things will change. Most will be similar. I have no idea who the next head coach will be, but it will be what’s best for the kids. This is the end of an era. You’re just not going to see coaches anymore who stays with it for 40 years. There are too many obstacles now. People moving, people stepping down. You’re just not going to see that long-term coach anymore.”
Luplow also coached boys track, junior varsity baseball and junior varsity softball at Clare.
“I didn’t want to leave the cupboard bare, and it’s not,” Luplow said. “Still, it was a huge decision, a tough decision.
“It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made.”
If you would like your local high school sports news delivered free to your inbox daily, click here and sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters.
**Subscribe to MLive for complete access throughout the spring sports season, just $1 for 3 months!**
MORE
Reyna Luplow leaves Swan Valley to take Hartland girls basketball job
Ad Choices