Ken Hiskes has visited Tom Dyke usually over the previous three years since his good friend and former colleague contracted ALS.
Whereas Mr. Dykema's voice pale, his love and enthusiasm for South Christian student-athletes nonetheless got here by way of loud and clear.
“I'm positive it was a wrestle as a result of it's an insidious illness that assaults your physique and never your mind,” Hiskes mentioned. “He was virtually utterly incapacitated.
“However mentally he was 100% and needed to listen to every part that was occurring at college, particularly sports activities. His voice was very weak and he couldn't converse very loudly or something, however he was stuffed with positivity and he was superb along with his state of affairs.'
Mr. Dykema, who coached South Christian boys basketball from 1972 to 1997 and served as the highschool's athletic director for 28 years, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2021. Mr. Dykema, who additionally taught math at South Christian for 37 years, was 74.
Mr. Dykema compiled a 414-168 report throughout his 25 seasons, together with the Sailors profitable the Class B state championship in 1988. Dykema's groups additionally gained 4 area, 11 district and 16 convention championships throughout his tenure.
It wasn't simply what Mr. Dykema did on the basketball courtroom, in response to Hiskes, who has identified him for the previous 35 years. Hiskes joined Dykema's employees in 1985 and spent 12 years as a varsity assistant and junior varsity coach earlier than changing Dykema as head varsity coach. Hiskes led the Sailors to state titles in 2003 and 2005 earlier than stepping down in 2015.
“I bear in mind at any time when I walked down the corridor, he knew each scholar by identify,” Hiskes mentioned. “He beloved being with the youngsters, they beloved being with him and he was only a implausible position mannequin.
“If I needed to sum up Tom Dyke, I might name him Mr. South Christian Sports activities. I’ve by no means met anybody at this faculty who has had a larger affect, a extra optimistic affect than Tom. We've had some nice ones, however he's been as nice as anyone.”
Steve Sikma referred to as himself a sizzling 22-year-old coach in 1990 when the Sailors added a rookie workforce and Dykema and Hiskes requested him to educate the workforce. Sikma coached at South Christian for 15 years earlier than taking the boys varsity job at Hamilton, the place he coached for eight seasons.
“Tom has advised me a narrative many instances about his first yr at South Christian once they gained one sport,” Sikma mentioned. “It confirmed me that it doesn't at all times come . He confirmed braveness and willpower, and this confirmed even within the final years of his life.
“One of many issues I actually appreciated and one thing I've at all times admired about Tom, watching him coach his groups, he was in a position to make each certainly one of his gamers really feel valued, from his first 5 to the top his profession.” bench,. As I went on to educate, that's a tough factor. It takes lots of knowledge and relationships to make a bunch of younger males really feel uniquely valued. He was a fantastic mentor and information for me.”
South Christian athletic director David Kool, who performed on Hiskes' state championship-winning groups, mentioned the Sailors will honor Mr. Dyke this season. Mr. Dykema was Kool's first math instructor at South Christian.
“He was fun-loving, partaking, you would inform he beloved the topic, and for me as a person who didn't actually get pleasure from math, it was enjoyable,” Kool mentioned. “That's top-of-the-line issues you possibly can say a few instructor or a coach. He was simply enjoyable to be round. He had such vitality and wit that you simply simply needed to be round. That was my first impression of Coach.”
Dykema coached the Sailors to the state Last 4 in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1988, and so they completed as runners-up in 1980. The Sailors with the Michigan Mr. Basketball Matt Steigenga gained their first state title in 1988, defeating Redford Borgese. , 69-66, within the title sport.
“I can inform you that each a kind of children, once they obtained off the bus, after we got here residence from profitable the state championship, they advised them how a lot they beloved him,” Hiskes mentioned. “That's the bond he had and I needed to emulate him. These children turned a number of the finest mates Tom had for all times.”
Mr. Dykema was inducted into the Basketball Coaches Affiliation of Michigan Corridor of Fame in 2012. He was additionally named the West Michigan Officers Athletic Director of the 12 months in 1991.
“The referees advised me that South Christian was their favourite place to come back as a result of the athletic director at all times handled them so properly,” Hiskes mentioned. “They have been at all times met on the door and at all times properly sorted.
Mr. Dykem is survived by his spouse of 51 years, Joan (Tubergen), kids Jill (Fred) Britton and Beth (Joel) Brown and three grandchildren Matt Britton, Helen and Joel (JT) Brown. He’s additionally survived by sisters, Nancy Karsten and Helen Sanders; brother-in-law of Terry and Mary Nienhuis; and a number of other nieces and nephews. His household plans to carry a non-public, faith-filled service. In Mr. Dykema's honor and in lieu of flowers, contributions in his identify could also be made to South Christian Excessive Faculty, 7979 Kalamazoo Ave., Byron Middle. The household welcomes reminiscences and messages of their on-line guestbook at www.cookcaresbyron.com.
