Steve J. Szasz was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois (Arlington Heights). He attended Michigan State College to play football as a Right Halfback from 1935-1940, graduating in the spring of 1940, and lettering in his final 3 seasons (‘37, ‘38, ‘39). He was a member of the 1937 team that went to the Orange Bowl and finished 8-2. At the time, this was only the 5th team in the program’s 42 year history to win 8 or more games, and the first bowl game appearance in the history of Michigan State Football (they would lose to Auburn in the Orange Bowl 6-0 on January 1st, 1938). Coach Szasz would accept a job at Grand Ledge High School in the summer of 1940 after graduation to be a History & Physical Education teacher as well as the football, basketball, and baseball coach.

Coach Szasz led Grand Ledge Football to its first two championships in school history as well as its first ever undefeated season. He also led the basketball team to an 11-3 overall record and a conference championship. Coach Szasz would be called to service in the army at Fort Sill in Oklahoma as a response to Pearl Harbor in February of 1942, leaving an interim coach to finish out his 2nd season for both basketball and baseball that winter and spring. 

We are unable to find much information about Steve after he was called to service in World War II. An article in the Lansing State Journal interviewing his former Michigan State Football teammate, Ole Nelson, mentions Szasz, saying about him: “...upon returning from the war, he moved out east, was working for a major publishing company, and changed his last name from Szasz to Shaw”.

1st photo: Coach Szasz pictured in the 1941-1942 Grand Ledge High School yearbook.

2nd photo: Szasz in an action shot as a member of the Michigan State College Football Team. Circa 1938.

3rd photo: Szasz accepting an award at a banquet as a member of the 1938 Michigan State College Football Team, the first team ever to be invited to a bowl game.

Known to many as Bill, died on April 22, 2016, at age 97. Mr. Shippey was born on June 7, 1918, to William Lee and Bernice (Henry) Shippey in St. Louis, Michigan.  He graduated from Lansing Eastern High School where he played on the varsity football and baseball teams for three seasons each. Earning 1st Team All-State in football in 1935. He then attended Western Michigan University where he played guard both offensively and defensively on the football team, lettering in his final three seasons (‘37, ‘38, ‘39).  

       He went on to earn a Master's Degree in Education from Michigan State University.  He called himself "the luckiest man alive" when he married Florence Cook in 1938, and they shared 66 years together until she died in 2004.  Like so many others of his generation, he left his work and family during World War II and joined the US Navy where he proudly served as an officer aboard the USS Haas in the South Pacific.  Upon his return, Mr. Shippey had a long, respected career that included time as a teacher; a coach of football, baseball, track, basketball, and wrestling; and an athletic director, starting first at Grand Ledge High School (where he was coaching when he was called into service, then returned to after the war), then briefly at Lansing Technical, and for most of his years at Lansing Everett.  He was especially proud of his involvement with the Dean Shippey Capital Diamond Classic baseball tournament which has been a premiere high school baseball tournament for area teams for more than 50 years at Lugnuts Stadium. He was the founder and original director of the Diamond Classic beginning in 1962. He was inducted into the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. Mr. Shippey also enjoyed building houses, playing golf, and doing crossword puzzles. 

First Photo: Coach Shippey pictured in the GLHS Yearbook in 1941-1942.

Second Photo: Coach Shippey pictured for his service with the Navy in the mid 1940s.

At the time of his death, Grand Ledge’s Charles “Charlie” Gorman Jr. was considered one of the state’s top coaches in 3 sports and was well respected in his community and by the state-wide athletic community. Coach Gorman was tragically killed in a car accident at the age of 36 following the 1966 football season. The Grand Ledge Baseball Stadium at the high school is known as Gorman Field in his honor. Coach Gorman was hired in 1959 as a physical education teacher and a junior varsity football coach. That winter he started the school’s first wrestling program and, soon after, started serving as both the head football and baseball coaches while leading the wrestling program.

           Coach Gorman was a graduate of Lansing Resurrection High School (which would later become Lansing Gabriel’s High School) where he lettered in Baseball, Basketball, Football, and Golf. He attended Michigan State University to play baseball as a pitcher. While there, his senior season he was a member of the 1954 Big Ten Championship Team, the team that finished 3rd at the NCAA College World Series, and he was also the Vice President of the Varsity “S” Club. While still playing for Michigan State, Coach Gorman was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1953. After graduating, he served in the Armed Forces, and he was subsequently offered a contract by the New York Yankees. 

          Coach Gorman was inducted into the Lansing Sports Hall of Fame in 2014 for his numerous achievements while coaching high school sports. Including, but not limited to: starting the Grand Ledge Wrestling Program in 1959 (achieving a record of 84-20-1, 5 league titles, 3 regional titles, 4 individual state champs, & Team State Runner Up in 1962 in 7 seasons as its 1st head coach), achieving a 27-11-4 record in only 5 seasons as Head Football coach (winning 2 league titles), establishing with Coach Love the Youth Football Program, achieving an 85-27 record in 6 seasons as the Head Baseball Coach (winning 2 league titles and 2 Diamond Classics).

         Coach Gorman’s achievements and influence are still felt today across three different varsity sports at Grand Ledge High School.

First Photo: Coach Gorman pictured alongside his assistant coach John Krupa in the 1962 yearbook during the night of a game.

Second Photo: Coach Gorman’s photo used for his induction into the Lansing Sports Hall of Fame. Circa mid-1960s coaching baseball or football.

Second Photo: Former Head Coach Lacey Bernard (1957-1961), pictured center left. Former Head Coach Charles Gorman (1962-1966), pictured center right. Photo taken around 1960.

Coach Gorman's Championship teams (Click)

John Krupa, age 82, passed away peacefully on Thursday September 10, 2020, in Leslie, MI. He was survived by his wife Terry, daughter Kristi, son Daymon, and 4 grandchildren. He was born December 10, 1937 in Johnstown, PA.  In 1957 he graduated from Conemaugh Township High School in Davidsville, PA where he still holds records for track and field events. He was recruited by Duffy Daughtery and Michigan State University to play football on a football scholarship. 

During his 36 years as an educator at Grand Ledge High School, Coach Krupa did his best to take Grand Ledge to a better place. While teaching physical education, health, and drivers education, he also coached the Grand Ledge High School Football Team. For 25+ years (18 as the Head Coach & 7 as an assistant) he helped lead the Grand Ledge Comets to victory on the field, coaching them to 6 straight West Central Conference Championships from 1969 to 1974 (a feat that was not matched before nor has it been equaled since) and 1 Capital Area Conference Championship in 1981. 

His 7 conference championships are the most by one Head Football Coach in school history. His 85 total wins are 3rd most by a coach in school history, his 66 conference wins are the 2nd most by a coach in school history, and Coach Krupa’s 18 seasons spent as the Varsity Head Football Coach are the most all-time by a Grand Ledge Varsity Football Coach. 

Those who knew "Coach Krupa" know that he was truly one of a kind and his stories, jokes, and memories still bring us laughter and smiles.

First Photo: Coach Krupa (center, Coach O'Keefe left) preseason 1973 with coaching staff.

Second Photo: Coach Krupa (center right clapping, Coach O'Keefe far left) on the sideline 1973.

Third Photo: Coach Krupa (center right towel around his neck, Coach O'Keefe center left smiling) with players and coaches after completing the first 9-0 season in school history in 1973.

 Pat O'Keefe is not only one of the greatest high school coaches in Grand Ledge’s history, he’s one of the greatest coaches in Michigan High School history, especially in the world of baseball. Coach O’Keefe is a Standish, Michigan native, where he starred in sports at Standish-Sterling High School. He was an all-state selection in football and basketball in 1963. He went on to play baseball at Central Michigan University, lettering in 1965, 1966, 1967, and he was an all-conference selection his senior season. O'Keefe was inducted into the CMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. He spent 1968-70 playing minor-league baseball in the Houston Astros organization. 

          Coach O'Keefe is an icon in Grand Ledge as the longtime Head Varsity Baseball Coach for more than 50 years and Head Varsity Football Coach for 13 seasons. He is one of only two baseball coaches in state history with more than 1,200 victories. He is the winningest Baseball Coach in Michigan High School history with 1,315 wins (as of Feb, 2020). The recently retired baseball coach guided Grand Ledge to state titles in 1977 and 1995. In 2000, he led Grand Ledge to a Class AA football state championship. He retired from coaching football in 2005 with the most total wins as the Varsity Head Coach in school history at 95, the most conference wins at 69, only one losing season (4-5), 5 conference championships, 8 playoff appearances, 4 district titles, 1 regional title, and the 2000 state title. He was named the LSJ Class A Coach of the Year 4 times (1994, 1997, 2000, 2005), the MHSFCA Class AA Regional Coach of the Year 3 times (1994, 1997, 2000), and the MHSFCA Coach of the Year in 2000. O'Keefe was inducted in the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1990 as well as the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.

         Coach O’Keefe is enjoying being fully retired by spending time with his wife of nearly 50 years, Melody, and spending time with his numerous grandkids. He still resides in downtown Grand Ledge. Coach O’Keefe quoted in the LSJ in February, 2020 upon retiring from baseball: "The community has been awesome," said O'Keefe, "I couldn't have coached in a better community that loves their sports. I've always said I coached for the kids and because of the parents, and that certainly can be said in this community. They just have been fantastic to myself and our family. This has been a great place to raise the family."

First Photo: Coach O’Keefe raises the State Title trophy towards his players, staff, and the GL community in the stands in 2000.

Second Photo: Coach O’Keefe on the sidelines of the Clarkston game during the playoff run in 2000.

Third Photo: Coach O’Keefe embraces Nic Jensen after winning the 2000 State Championship.

Fourth Photo: Coach O’Keefe coaching fall of 2005 in his final season.

Click > 2000 State Champs