Redford Union High School
Athletics Hall of Fame
Est. 2018
Hall of Fame Committee
Mike Taylor '99
Chairperson
Currently the Principal at Redford Union High School, Mike is also a proud graduate of RUHS where he was a student/athlete for the Panthers for four years. Mike was a member of the inaugural ice-hockey hockey team in 1996 that laid the foundation for the hockey program. Mike was also a member of the inaugural Redford Unified hockey team (RU and Thurston) in 1998 that compiled an overall record of 21-5 during the 1998-1999 season and a Top 10 ranking in Division 1.
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On the diamond, Mike was a member of the #3 state ranked Panthers baseball team in 1999 - the only team in the state to beat #1 Detroit Catholic Central that year. That year also marked the third consecutive season that the Panthers captured the MEGA Conference championship, doing so with an unbeaten conference record of 12-0. Some of Mike's fondest memories as a baseball player were playing for coaches Rick Berryman, Shawn McGowan, and Bob Green.
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Shortly after graduating, Mike returned and joined the district as a staff member. Additionally, he was an assistant hockey coach and the JV baseball coach from 2000-2003. He then coached the varsity baseball team from 2003-2008 during a period that produced four Division 1 All-State players and 2007 Major League Baseball Draft pick Toby Matchulat (Detroit Tigers). Mike's fondest memory of coaching at RU was in 2003 when his Panthers baseball team defeated state ranked #4 Detroit Catholic Central in the state playoffs on the Shamrocks' home field on Breakfast Drive in front of an overflow crowd.
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Mike earned two Associate degrees from Schoolcraft College, his Bachelor's degree (B.S.) in Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Administration from the University of Toledo, his Master's degree (M.S.) in K-12 Administration from Western Michigan University, and his Education Specialist degree (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership from Central Michigan University.
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Mike is committed to seeing the rich traditions and history of Redford Union carried into the future.
Kim Crenshaw (Lowney)'92
Bio coming...
Jim Gibbons
After 15 years of teaching and coaching in Redford Union Schools, Jim spent the next twelve years as Redford Union school’s district athletic director, eleven years as a high school assistant principal at Livonia Churchill, and five years as a high school principal at Livonia Stevenson.
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He has held high school head coaching positions at Redford Union in football, track and field, cross country and volleyball. He has coached state champions and his teams have won league and regional titles. Jim also worked for USA Hockey for 12 years as a coach instructor. He has been a registered official for almost 40 years, he has officiated Championship meets For the MHSAA, NCAA (Big Ten, GLIAC) and USA Track and Field.
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Jim was recognized for his long and varied service to Redford Union students’ parents and the larger Redford community. The project he is most proud of is the Redford Union Extra-curricular task force. At a time when the Redford Union Board of Education was forced to significantly reduce/eliminate district funding for extra-curricular activities, he organized and led parents, community members and school board in raising over $250,000 to support all extra-curricular activities. Athletics, Band, Choir and Drama.
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Jim was inducted into the Redford Union Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
Bob Green '63
Bob will be inducted into the Redford Union Athletics Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 this May.
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Bio coming...
Bob Ouellette
Coach O is a retired Redford Union teacher and cross country and track coach.
Over the span of more than 40 years at Redford Union, Coach O was a mentor and inspiration to countless student-athletes and coaches across the athletic department. There weren’t many sporting events (home or away) that you didn’t see Coach O at either coaching or supporting the Panthers.
He coached both the boys and girls cross country and track teams to several league championships at RU. He was also the lead instructor for the United States Track & Field Coaches Level 3 from 1989 to 2002.
Coach O was inducted into the Redford Union Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019, as a member of the inaugural class.
“Onward and Upward”
Homer "Tip" Smathers
Bio coming...
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Miles Tomasaitis
The winningest football coach in Redford Union history when he retired from coaching 2017, Miles is currently the Building, Grounds, and Facilities Director for Redford Union Schools. Miles has been a long-time fixture in the Redford Union community - over a 30 -year span, Miles served as an assistant football coach, head track & field coach, and head football coach. Miles led the Panthers football program to four state playoff appearances, including the Panthers' first-ever playoff win in 2016 - a 41-34 victory over Warren Fitzgerald.
After graduating from Redford St. Agatha and then Central Michigan University, Miles joined the Redford Township Police Department and retired as sergeant. Miles enjoys spending his free time attending Michigan Wolverine football and basketball games.
Miles will be inducted into the Redford Union Athletics Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 this May.
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