The Redford Thurston football team returns every member of its offensive line but one — longtime position coach Bill Cohan, 67, who died Aug. 14.
When MHSFCA Hall of Fame coach Bob Snell took over in 1988, his first hire was Cohan, who spent nearly his entire career at Thurston as a football assistant and wrestling coach. Cohan even stayed with the team after Snell retired in 2021.
Cohan was known for showing up an hour early to prepare the field or wrestling room, buying food or cleats for players in need and bringing a warm, upbeat spirit to tense moments, such as playoff prep or rivalry games.
After winning seven games and reaching the playoffs for a second straight year in 2024, the Eagles didn’t need extra motivation this fall. They were already eager to beat rival Redford Union for the first time since 2019, win the Western Wayne Athletic Conference and chase a district title. Now, with Cohan missing from their sideline, they’re even hungrier to win.
“We’re doing everything for him this year,” first-year coach William “Coach Webb” Webster said during an Aug. 21 practice. “We’re putting it all on the field for him.”
Cohan was there for some of Thurston’s brightest moments, and he stuck around through the darker ones, too.
With Snell, the Eagles won six league titles, made the playoffs 13 times and set a school record with 25 straight league wins. Cohan was part of nearly all of it.
He stayed when the program struggled after Snell left. That included the winless season in 2022 and the ensuing rebuilding seasons under coach Nick Davis, who recently departed for a teaching job with Livonia Public Schools. Coach Webb is Thurston’s third coach since Snell retired four years ago, yet Cohan signed up for another transition in leadership, wanting to be there for his players.
“He always cared about everybody and was just there for us,” said senior lineman Hector Barajas, who also wrestled for Cohan. “He’s always been a positive impact on the team, so it’s definitely been hard. So, we’ve just got to step up to the adversity and take over as a team.”
Cohan’s death hasn’t been a distraction. After attending his funeral Aug. 19, the team turned around the next day and played some of its best football of the offseason in a four-way scrimmage against Oxford, Roseville and Sterling Heights Stevenson.
The Eagles return 17 starters, including quarterback Troy Clark, running back Andre Dawson and receiver Jemir Lynum, a sophomore with seven offers already, five from MAC schools and one from Alabama.
Coach Webb said they’re ready to “be the best team in Redford,” and his players believe a 9-0 regular season is possible. They refuse to let Cohan’s passing get in the way of making this a special year.
“We’ve used his death as motivation because he would want us to make it as far as we possibly can,” said Lynum, Hometown Life’s Freshman of the Year in 2024. “If he was here, he’d want us to win every game, so we’re doing it for him.”
Despite Cohan’s departure, his upbeat spirit lives on. Players remain locked in, focused on improving daily so they can be competitive in the WWAC.
For a program chasing championships, the Eagles know every win this fall will carry extra meaning. And if they do make history, they’ll have Cohan on their minds, pushing them every step of the way.
“Everything we’re doing, we’re doing it for Cohan,” Coach Webb said. “So, if you’re tired, you’ve got to dig deep and do it for Cohan. He had a saying, ‘Never let them see you sweat,’ so I’m pretty sure that will stick with the kids for the rest of their lives — not just on the football field but off of it, too.”
Redford Thurston at a glance
2024 record: 7-3, 5-2
Season opener: vs. Port Huron Northern, 7 p.m. Aug. 28
Offensive starters back: 9
Defensive starters back: 8
Key returners: DE Montez Jackson, MLB Rickie Blocker Jr., WR/DB Jemir Lynum, OL/DL Hector Barajas, RB LB Andre Dawson, QB Troy Clark, FS Ashton Johnson
Brandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Redford Thurston football dedicating season to fallen assistant coach
Reporting by Brandon Folsom, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
