Mary Kay Baribeau - Coach

Year Inducted: 2015

Coach Mary Kay Baribeau's commitment to her athletes has been described as a "passionate force".

That drive for teamwork and success began with her first teaching and coaching job in 1970 at North Junior High in Belleville, MI. Baribeau transformed the brand new school's athletic program, being involved in everything from choosing the school mascot, uniforms, fight song, colors and coaching its students in sports as diverse as girls's gymnastics, cheerleading, softball, bowling, and basketball.

In the mid 1970s, Baribeau and her husband, Dr. Douglas Baribeau moved to Lakeport. He opened a pediatric dental practice in Port Huron and they adopted three children, Keely, Nate, and Kacey.

Baribeau returned to coaching in 1990 as assistant varsity/junior varsity coach of the Port Huron Northern High School girls' tennis team under coach Al Wright.

The 1991 varsity squad was the state runner-up. The Huskies went on to win back-to-back state titles in 1996 and 1997. Baribeau become head coach of the team in 1998, working with assistant coach Linda Smith. Together they continued to motivate, develop and support players, earning Northern two state runners-up and three state championship titles in 1999, 2000, 2002.

During her career with the Port Huron Northern tennis teams, Baribeau compiled a record of 113-15-7. She was named the Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Association Hall of Fame Assistant Coach of the Year in 1993, Class A Coach of the Year in 2000 and is a member of the MHSTCSA Hall of Fame.

Baribeau continues her connection with many of her players, and as one supporter and parent of her players noted, she is "regarded as a treasure, if not a legend", by our community.