ADRIAN, Mich. -- Siena Heights men's and women's golf coach Al Sandifer is going to be inducted into the Monroe Jefferson High School Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020 this Friday, September 17 before the Jefferson football game versus New Boston Huron.
Al Sandifer helped put Monroe Jefferson basketball on the map but also was a highly versatile athlete, lettering in track and field (1976 team MVP and setting the school high jump record), football (end), and cross country (1975 Bears team MVP). Sandifer was a member of the school's first winning basketball team and set the Jefferson single-season scoring record as a senior in 1975-76 – when he was All-Huron League, All-Region (Monroe Evening News), and All-Metro Downriver.
Sandifer then played a big role in establishing the Siena Heights University basketball program in Adrian, Michigan under Coach Ben Braun, and was named the Saints' MVP as well as the school's Athlete of the Year for 1977-78, the year before helping Siena finish 24-6. Sandifer was an 18-year assistant for Coach Fred Smith before becoming the head coach for four seasons, including a 21-11 showing in 2009-10 and being named Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference men's basketball Champion of Character Coach of the Year in 2010-11. The team annually awards the Al Sandifer "Spirit of a Saint" Award. He also coached the Adrian High boys' basketball team to a 52-18 record over three seasons and was Lenawee County Coach of the Year in 1999 before winning a district championship in 2000. He ran the Adrian Team Camps for 35 years and the Siena Heights Hoopsters League youth basketball program for 23 years.
Sandifer also is the winningest softball coach in Siena history with 271 victories over 10 seasons and was a three-time WHAC Coach of the Year in addition to winning District and Regional Coach of the Year while taking the Saints to the NAIA national tournament. His Saints won three consecutive WHAC championships, 1993-94-95. He's also coached the men's and women's golf teams over the last nine seasons and led the men's team to the 2015 WHAC championship while being named WHAC men's golf Champion of Character Coach of the Year, 2012-13.
He lives in Adrian with his wife, Tami, also a Jefferson graduate. They have two children (Christie and Curtis) and three grandchildren (Cole, Casten, and Caden). He is also the Assistant Athletic Director for Siena's athletic department.
(Hall of Fame Information provided by Steve Kornacki)
