He’s been a mainstay in Coleman for decades.
He’d be the first person you’d see when entering the gymnasium to watch a game, digging through a bag of popcorn. He’d be along the fence line or in the press box at football games and track meets, rooting the Comets on.
Or he’d be standing in the third-base coaching box waving runners home on the diamond.
Meet Dave Mammel, one of the good guys and good coaches and good teachers and good administrators at Coleman High School.
This week marks Mammel’s final week at Coleman as the long-time educator and coach is officially retiring after a 33-year tenure with the Comets.
“It was just one of those things, I felt it was time,” said Mammel, who was inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2015. “(Coleman) was a perfect fit for me because I grew up in a similar community, it was the perfect environment for me.”
Mammel started his teaching career in Coleman in the fall of 1989 after playing baseball at Michigan State University for four years. The Saginaw Valley Lutheran graduate earned a starting spot in the MSU pitching rotation as a college freshman as a knuckleballer.
Upon arrival he was an assistant baseball coach under Joe Albaugh for two seasons, two seasons that saw the Comets win nearly 70 games and lose only five or six. The 1993 Comets won the Class C state title, shutting out Detroit Country Day 7-0 for the crown.
When Albaugh retired from coaching baseball Mammel stepped in and led the Comets to tons of success over the next 23 years, compiling a record of 504-316. Coleman baseball won six conference titles, five district titles and two regional crowns with Mammel leading the way.
In 2000 he took over as Athletic Director too and has been a mainstay ever since.
In terms of shining moments and achievements, well, there’s been many.
“Winning that first (baseball) district was big,” said Mammel .“It felt like it took forever to get it (in 1998).”
Mammel also started the annual ‘Booster Bonanza’, a yearly fundraiser that supports Coleman athletics. In the past 17 years it has raised over $300,000 and Mammel said he will continue to be involved with it.
As for what the future holds he said he will be spending more time with his family and see where it goes from there.
Having covered his teams and having had many lengthy discussions with Mammel over the years it can be said with sure certainty that he will be missed. He is and was a true profession who cared about the kids in the community of Coleman and worked tirelessly for their benefit.