The Mercy Health Sports Medicine Power Hour airs every Wednesday afternoon from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. Hosted by Jon Russell of 98.3 WLCS and former high school and college football coach Mike Taylor, the Mercy Health Sports Medicine Power Hour this week (January 29^th) will feature Keith Guy, the basketball coach for the Muskegon High School Big Reds. Coach Guy and his team are having an excellent year. Not only are they undefeated but they are also ranked #2 in the state in Class A basketball.

Our friends at the Muskegon Tribune did an excellent profile on Keith Guy that we wanted to share with you.

Championship Bound: Former Heights coach, Keith Guy, has Class A plans for the Big Reds

By MIKE MATTSON

Contributing Reporter

Keith Guy’s love for Muskegon Heights cuts deep.

You could almost say he bleeds orange and black as a graduate and former standout player and coach at MHHS.

But Guy is enjoying a new love affair these days as athletic director and boys’ basketball coach at neighboring Muskegon High School.

Guy may have left his former duties at the Heights, but he’s opened his heart to new challenges with the Big Reds. And he makes it known that nothing short of a Class A state championship will be pursued while he’s on the bench. 

“Of course, (a state title) does not define who you are as a coach, but as a competitor, you want the ultimate prize,” Guy said in his MuskegonAD office. “I do want the big prize.”

“I think we can do it,” Guy added. “That is one of our goals. We are building this program for scholarships and championships. Hopefully, we will put a state championship banner in Redmond-Potter Gymnasium.”

FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL POWER?

Guy served nine years as the former basketball coach and athletic director at Heights before it switched to a charter school system.

For sure, Guy kept Heights in the limelight as one of the state’s top basketball programs. The Tigers made five trips to the Final Four and twice finished state runner-up.

Guy doesn’t plan to change his methods or approach at Muskegon. Building a Class A power in basketball with hard work is his goal.

“I try to be fair, but I require a lot from the kids,” said Guy, who is a big Los Angeles Lakers’ fan. “You have to take care of business in school and be on time for practice. We try to run a college program at the high school level.”

This year’s Muskegon squad is comprised of six players from Muskegon and seven transfers from MuskegonHeights.

The football team relied on Heights transfers en route to a state runner-up finish and Guy knows the basketball team can use the same chemistry to do good things.

“Right now, the kids are getting along great,” said Guy, whose team beat West Ottawa in its season opener. “The kids are playing for one another like they did in football. My hope is the community and adults adjust as well as the kids have.”

“We don’t look at this as being Muskegon kids and Muskegon Heights kids,” Guy added. “We are Muskegon Big Reds.”

Muskegon is the winningest football program in the state and Guy plans to use that success in basketball. He said the two programs will work together and both will benefit.

“As a basketball coach, if you have success in the football program, you use it to your advantage,” Guy said. “You make kids feel comfortable they can play both and not have to choose one sport over another.”

“I think consistently we can build (basketball) so we are in the thick of things every year and give ourselves a chance to win it.”

HARD WORK AND DETAILS

Guy’s love for basketball started when he was young. He honed his skills along the way and developed into a talented point guard at Heights, Muskegon Community College and Ferris State University.

In coaching, Guy consults with Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, good friend Lamar Chapman (Stony Brook assistant), Bill Sall (Ferris State coach) and Gene Gifford (former MCC and Olivet coach).

But Guy also consults more with his parents, Clarence and Velma. Clarence, a minister, and Velma, who worked for General Electric and Sappi, helped shape Guy’s work ethic.

“I wouldn’t change the way I grew up,” Guy said. “I got so much from my parents. They taught me so much. The reason why I am where I am today is because of them.”

Guy usually starts his day with a 6 a.m. wake-up. In basketball season, Guy often doesn’t get to bed untilmidnight or later, especially if there is a long road trip.

The added duties of athletic director also make for challenging days, but Guy enjoys going to work every day. “I like athletics and I like competing,” he said about his AD duties. “I like seeing if we can build some of our minor sports. It is a fun job. To be an athletic director and basketball coach you are dealing with athletics all day.”

Family is important to Guy, too.

Guy thanks his wife Kiesha and children for their support and understanding for the time he must spend at his jobs.

One of Guy’s closest relationships is with his brother Maurice Sain. They played two years together at Heights and Sain has been a valuable assistant to Guy during his coaching career.

Sain is not surprised by Guy’s success as a basketball coach.

“He pays close attention to details,” Sain said. “He pays attention to the little things because that is what gets you over the hump. He’s a very intense coach and he doesn’t like to lose at all.”

These days, Guy can be seen wearing Muskegon’s school colors. It’s been a good transition and he hopes the best is yet to come.

“People have treated me great here,” Guy said. “It’s a great place to work.

These communities are so close. I still love Muskegon Heights and what it was. But I love where I am today as well.”