WISCONSIN DELLS – Former Darlington boys’ basketball coach Michael Hopkins was selected as the recipient of the 2016 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Tribute Award. He received the honor at the annual WBCA Hall of Fame banquet held at the Wilderness Lodge in Wisconsin Dells last weekend.
    He retired from coaching this past season, but continues to teach at Darlington. He continues to be a big supporter of the WBCA and the MACC Fund.
    In 2005, Hopkins had a player play in the All-Star games. The student council had a fundraiser that consisted of both homeroom and individual competition. Hopkins decided that raising money for the MACC Fund was such a worthwhile project that he would continue with the fundraising each year regardless if Darlington had a player in the games or not. The money raised was divided among the SWAL conference players for fundraising purposes. If there are no players, then the money is just sent directly to the WBCA as a donation.
    Since he started this project, Darlington has raised almost $10,000 for the MACC Fund. He plans to continue this worthwhile project as long as he is a teacher and student council advisor at Darlington schools.
    Hopkins had been the Darlington head coach for 27 years (20 for the boys and seven for the girls). He was also an assistant coach for three years at Darlington, one year at Beloit Turner and one year at Beloit Catholic.
    The highlights of his career includes a boys’ class C state champions (1990), four SWAL conference championships with the boys (1990, 2005, 2010, 2011), two SWAL conference championships with the girls (1998, 1999), three boys’ regional titles (1989, 1990, 2016) and one sectional title (1990).
    Hopkins had the opportunity to play for Bill Knapton at Beloit College from 1975-1978.  He also played in the WISAA state tournament in 1973 for Beloit Catholic.
    His varsity coaching record is 361 wins and 247 losses and his overall coaching record is 469 wins and 344 losses.