Bethel Pays Fitting Tribute To Classy Coach
Bethel College men’s basketball coach Mike Lightfoot looks on while being honored Saturday.
MISHAWAKA – Mike Lightfoot has left quite a mark on the lives of hundreds of young men during his illustrious basketball coaching career.
It’s only fitting that his mark is now indelible stamped on the hardwood that he has called home at Bethel College for so long.
The classy Lightfoot, who announced last month that this would be his final season in charge of the Pilots, was honored in a signature way by the school Saturday.
The Bethel College administration surprised Lightfoot by naming the playing floor in Gates Gymnasium in the Wiekamp Center as the Mike Lightfoot Court.
The prestigious honor for the 30-year Bethel mentor came prior to a Crossroads League matchup with long-time rival Grace College.
The record will show that the No. 4 Pilots won the first-ever game on the Lightfoot Court by a 91-73 final.
But this day was all about the man whose contributions go far, far beyond the 786 victories and the seven national championships in his remarkable time on the Bethel bench.
Lightfoot, who was saluted by a capacity crowd with a standing ovation just prior to tip-off Saturday, became emotional as the new logo on the court was unveiled.
“It’s overwhelming,” Lightfoot said moments after being honored with his family by his side at center court. “I’ve been blessed to be here. So many years with so many great people and great administrations. The community of Michiana has been a blessing for me. I’m overwhelmed. I don’t deserve all the accolades. It’s God’s doing and I’ve been on the ride.”
Lightfoot, 60, was hired as the Bethel coach in 1987 after beginning his coaching career at Mishawaka Marian High School. He replaced Homer Drew, who went on to a highly-successful run as the coach at Valparaiso University.
The court naming came as a surprise to the coach, who graduated from Bethel in 1978.
“It is surreal, especially since I’m alive to see it.” Lightfoot said. “Sometimes they do things when you’re dead. It’s an honor. It’s not just me. It’s my family and everyone who’s put in so much time and sacrifice for me to be here.”
Lightfoot’s numbers in three decades are eye popping to say the least.
Lightfoot has won three NAIA and four NCCAA national championships and 18 league regular season and tournament titles. He has guided the Pilots to 10 seasons with 30 or more wins and 25 campaign with at least 20 wins. He is the NAIA coach who was the quickest in history to reach 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 victories.
Mike Lightfoot and his wife Jacci share a hug.
Lightfoot’s 786 wins are more than the seven previous Bethel coaches combined. He is 31-12 all-time in the national tournament and has coached 31 NAIA All-Americans and 98 All-Conference players.
The numbers do not tell anything though about what Lightfoot has really been about.
The man who was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2009 has been about family and faith.
Lightfoot and his devoted wife Jacci have two sons, Ryne and Robbie, who both played at NorthWood High School and then for their father at Bethel. Ryne, who has been an assistant coach for his father for the past six years, will replace him as the head coach next season.
Lightfoot has taken numerous missions trips with players in his program and has a graduation rate of 98 percent.
How much does his current team love their coach?
The Pilots are 23-3 this season and lead the Crossroads League at 13-1 after Saturday’s conference win. Bethel has won its last 12 games and are 9-0 since their leader announced his impending retirement a month ago.
But it goes far beyond the wins.
Clay Yeo, one of five seniors for the Pilots, summed it up best a couple of days after Lightfoot made it public that this would be his final season. Yeo, who began his career at Valparaiso University after a brilliant prep career at Triton High School, has returned from a knee injury. Yeo, who is playing in a lot of pain, was injured in November and originally had decided to end his playing career in December and have knee surgery again (Yeo had surgery this past offseason).
Yeo, who led the Pilots with 20 points in the win over Grace on Saturday, changed his mind and decided to endure the pain for the rest of the season in large part due to his coach.
“It’s been a very emotional time for all of us this week with Coach Lightfoot announcing his retirement. We want to make this final season special for him. It just fuels our fire that this is his last go around. We want to play our butts off for him the rest of this season.”
That’s the kind of mark that Lightfoot can cherish long after his final game this season.
Mike Lightfoot watches a pregame ceremony Saturday. His son and assistant coach Ryne is in the background.
Mike Lightfoot waves to the crowd at Bethel on Saturday.
