There is not much difference in Lowell where Nolan Dean built a Hall of Fame high school coaching career and Chelsea where he is making another splash at the high school.
One difference is Lowell employed people at Kings Mill Flour Mill and Chelsea has a Jiffy Mix factory. Other than that, it's all the same to Dean.
Both schools are good football programs, which pleases Dean. More importantly they are both big on academics. Dean's four kids all attended Lowell High School. His three sons went to Harvard. His daughter is studying to be a doctor at Michigan State University.
His program at Chelsea made the top 100 list nationally for the National Academic Excellence Award – one of five Michigan schools to make the list. Chelsea made the list two straight years, both under Dean.
“Thanks to all of our wonderful school employees, community, and families,” Dean said. “Our varsity football team is in the top 100 in the nation. On the merits of their academic excellence, and field success Chelsea is one of 3 eleven-player teams from Michigan to reach this level.”
Chelsea (4-0) is also good in football under Dean. It is ranked 14th in the Detroit Free Press Super 25 state rankings and is 20th in the Detroit News. The Bulldogs are 21-5 under Dean and raised eyebrows with an opening-season win over Harper Woods.
The Bulldogs play host to Dexter (2-2) in Friday night’s WHMI Game of the Week.
If there is one thing Dean does not like is the world view of sports generated from the Internet and talk radio.
“The world is kind of sucking the life out of sports,” he said. “Too click baity, if that is a word.”
Officially, it is not. But we know what you mean.