By Chad Wingert (Contact / Staff Bio)
June 13, 2009 - 11:38 a.m. EST

KINGSTON — Mike Rea will always be associated with Kingston Schools and more importantly, Kingston athletics. But sadly, the time has come for Coach Rea to hang up his whistle and step down from his coaching duties.

“I’ve been doing this for just under 40 years and this year, I really got tired,” Rea said. “It was affecting me mentally, (and) physically and I just felt it was time.”

Rea has held many titles during his time within the Kingston School District - Principal, Athletic Director, Teacher, Track Coach, Basketball Coach and Football Coach. But now, there is one title Rea feels he is ready to shift his focus to - “Grandfather.”

“I do not feel that I was a very good father, in terms of spending time with my kids. I was always at a practice, game, clinic or weightlifting,” Rea said. “I want to be a better grandfather and that is really where a lot of my focus is going to be.”

Rea had put Kingston athletics first in his life for so many years, over time and building responsibilities, something had to give. But Rea won’t be completely erasing himself from the Kingston school district; he will still fulfill his duties as elementary school principal and athletic director. He just needs some time to be a family man.

“This has nothing to do with winning or losing, our kids or our administration,” Rea said. “This has everything to do with me and my family.”

Rea wants to spend more time with his three grandchildren, Aubrey, Lincoln and Lindsey, as well as his daughter, Andrea, and son, John. And, after the recent death of his father, John, Mike will be spending more time with his mother, Violet, who resides in Midland. However, the distance did not hold Rea’s parents back from watching his games. Instead, Rea’s parents were his biggest fans, traveling all over the state to watch the Cardinals play.

“They have been to everything,” Rea said. “My son figured out that they have been to almost 1,000 athletic events.”

When Rea decided it was time to step away from his coaching career, he knew that timing was crucial. He wanted to be fair to the kids and his programs he was leaving behind, as well as allowing Kingston Schools the proper amount of time to find a replacement for him.

“I think too much of this community and these kids to not be fully committed to these programs,” Rea said. “I just feel like I could no longer be fully committed to them, considering my family and my other responsibilities.”

One person who knows that Coach Rea will be missed is Carl Nicol. He is currently the Cardinals varsity baseball coach and has also been involved in Kingston’s basketball program, spending 14 years under Rea as head coach of the junior varsity squad.

“It’s hard not to see him in the future, but he has left the programs looking good,” Nicol said. “He is a good friend of mine and we spend a lot of time together. It’s just going to be different without him on the bench.”

Kingston athletics have a motto that was constantly preached by Rea. According to Nicol, the motto was followed by everyone, and it will hopefully continue to be followed with Coach Rea in mind.

“He always said, ‘You win with class and you lose with class.’ That’s one of the biggest things that sticks out about Mike,” Nicol said. “He has done a great job at building these programs and I feel like he has done it all with great class.”

One thing is for sure in Nicol’s mind - Rea’s presence will never be forgotten around the courts, fields and locker rooms of Kingston High School.

“It’s all about being a good person and I’m positive that he has instilled that not only in me, but others as well,” Nicol said. “He will always be a part of Kingston athletics.”

Rea has sent numerous players on to play sports at the college level, but one person who was especially sad to see Coach Rea go was Andy Brzezinski.

Brzezinski, a wide receiver under Rea, went on to Alma College to further his football career.

“Coach Rea made us bust our butts, but most of all, great work ethic is what he taught us,” Brzezinski said. “We were not the most talented team, but there was always the motivation to get better and keep improving.”

Brzezinski, a 2002 graduate of Kingston, won a football league title his senior year and went on to be a member of the 20-0 District Championship team in basketball.

It has not yet been determined who will replace Rea as boys varsity basketball and football coach, but Brzezinski was most confident that no matter who follows in Rea’s coaching footsteps, his legacy will live on.

“He leaves a ton of records and titles behind, but people are still going to follow his ways,” Brzezinski said. “He has just influenced so many people, I know whoever takes over will follow down the path that Coach Rea has already paved.”

When Rea notified next year’s football team that he would not be returning, he admitted there was a mixed reaction.

“I wanted the kids to know first, before anyone else,” Rea said. “Some of them were sad, others were glad that I won’t be barking at them anymore. But I know I will miss it.”

After thinking back about all of his accomplishments and the athletes who have walked through Rea’s locker room, there was not much hesitation when he was asked if any moments of the past stood out from the others. The best part was not one of those moments was represented by a banner hanging in the Cardinals’ gymnasium.

“The two things that stick out in my mind the most have nothing to do with championships. We had a 50- year reunion for Kingston football and we invited all of the players to come back,” Rea said happily. “Having all these players standing out on the field at halftime just stands out in my mind. I went down and shook hands with every one of them. The other was our alumni football game against Mayville.”

But as emotion quickly overcame Rea, it was apparent that he was going to miss being in the action. And most of all, he would miss the kids.

“We have had a lot of wins, a lot of championships and I’ve enjoyed all of them. But, having those guys come back, share memories and say ‘Coach, I miss you’ - those were the best.”

Chad Wingert is the Sports Editor of the Advertiser and can be reached at Sports@tcadvertiser.com