CLARENCE “SONNY” MEANS

Born November 27, 1927, Clarence “Sonny” Means developed into a fine basketball player – and coach – after originally being cut from Saginaw High School’s junior varsity team as a sophomore. Saginaw High coach Larry Laeding spotted Means playing in a Church League game and the speedy 5-11 guard wound up being a two-year starter for the Trojans. He wound up earning all-state honors his senior season in 1946. Means then spent the next 18 months in the U.S.

Army before going on to Michigan State College where he earned three varsity letters playing for both Al Kircher and Pete Newell. It was under Newell he found his greatest success as one of the Spartans’ top defensive standouts. He was the Spartans’ co-captain in 1952 when he averaged nine points-per-game. He earned All-Big 10 honors in ’52 and also earned honorable mention honors from Look Magazine. Means took the head basketball coaching position at Owosso High School directly out of college. After four years at Owosso, he returned to the East Lansing campus and coached the freshmen team for three years. He coached at Omaha University in Nebraska for two years and was then an assistant coach at St. Louis University for four seasons before returning to MSU in 1965 as an assistant coach. Means then accepted the head coaching position at Western Michigan University where he coached the Bronchos from 1966-70. He then took the head coaching job at Adrian College (1971-73). From 1970-2000 he ran summer basketball camps in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois under legendary coach Al McGuire, while also conducting a basketball camp in Belgium. He retired in 1987 and is currently a golf instructor at the Center-View Golf Course. The 1979 Saginaw High School yearbook named Means to the “Best 5 Ever” list in basketball.