Lakeland's Alsup Surpasses 900 Career Wins

It takes years of winning, dedication and, more than anything, coaching to get to 900 wins in any sport. But Lakeland softball head coach Joe Alsup isn’t slowing down any time soon after his most recent milestone. 

Alsup has two state titles at Waterford Kettering High School and three state runner-up finishes at Lakeland alone (seven overall). But when Alsup won his 900th game recently in a 3-1 victory over Grand Blanc, what Alsup was thinking about the most was all the players he has coached over the years. After all, it is the players that really matter the most. 

“Really what comes to mind is all the great players and student athletes I have coached over the years and how they were not just good players but good people,” said Alsup between games during a doubleheader sweep of Milford last Monday afternoon. 

Few coaches at any level have the chance to say they have won 900 games, but Alsup would rather focus on the number of players he has coached; a number that is in the thousands over a 31-year career. Many of these former players still come back to see Alsup, and he has now coached many of their children in local camps or even at the high school level. 

Over time, not just Alsup but the players forget about some of the softball lessons, but they will always remember the life lessons that were taught and discussed among coaches, parents and players. 

“I think those are the memories that I will always have and have the most fun with,” Alsup said. “Winning is fun but when you see players you coached years ago come back with their kids that’s an amazing thing.” 

Following Wednesday’s victories, Alsup has a career record of 910-211 with 27 league titles, 18 district titles and 12 regional titles.  

Earlier this year two of Alsup’s former players from his days coaching at the Waterford Township High School in 1975 came by to watch the Eagles take on Walled Lake Northern. Afterward they kidded their former coach that he hadn’t changed a bit. 

“Well I have a few more pounds now and less hair,” Alsup said with a laugh. “So a few things have changed.” 

What keeps Alsup’s teams successful are the talent and dedication of the players that emanates from the passion he has for coaching softball, said Lakeland Athletic Director Greg Michaels.

“He is a visionary that understands a program must develop at the youth level," Michaels said. "Over his tenure at Lakeland, Joe has created a blueprint for success (with) quality coaches, incredible facilities, supportive parents, terrific kids, and (establishing) a feeder program. He is a mentor and someone to seek advice from for coaches here at Lakeland I am fortunate to have Joe on my staff and I hope he has another 10 years of coaching in him.”

And don’t expect Alsup to retire anytime soon. Getting that 1,000th win is likely three to four years away. He admits that he is already “scouting” the area fifth graders, and Alsup is heavily involved in the Outlaws travel softball team, a program for softball players from the ages of 10 through upper levels of high school. That feeder program is helping to provide Lakeland with strong incoming talent annually. 

Alsup even keeps his hand in coaching seven and eight-year-olds, teaching them the basic fundamentals of the game. 

“I’ve got some kids on my team right now I coached at those ages,” Alsup said. “Those kids (the young kids) are really the most fun to teach. They don’t even know or care if they win the game or not.” 

One time a few years back Alsup was teaching the seven and eight-year-olds at his camp to slide head first into a base the proper way. He promised them if they slid headfirst they would receive an ice cream cone. 

“They would over slide the bag, get tagged out and come out asking for their ice cream,” Alsup said with a laugh.