Led Forest Park HS Boys to a state title game in 1995
IRONWOOD, MI – Gogebic Community College has a new Women’s Basketball Head Coach with plenty of experience. White Pine native Ward Hedlakoski brings several decades of coaching to the Samsons.
He’s had several stops in Michigan, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania. In Michigan he’s been a bench boss at Forest Park, Bloomingdale, Mattawan, and Hancock.
In 1995 he led the Forest Park Boys to a Class D state runner-up finish.
Recently, Helakoski served as an assistant coach for the Michigan Tech women’s basketball program, where he was responsible for implementing the Packline defense.
He is the son of Upper Peninsula Sport Hall of Famer Ed Helakoski, who won three straight Class D titles with the Chassell Boys from 1956-58.
