April 25 • 2019 59
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am Taub, longtime coach at
Mumford High School and
inductee into the Michigan
Jewish Sorts Hall of Fame, died April
13, 2019.
Sam Taub was a unique individual
in a number of ways. Great athlete,
teacher, coach, athletic director, but,
most of all, a great human being.
For those of us who were fortunate
enough to play for him at Mumford
High, his death was a great loss.
Most of us would agree that one
of the most important things in a
person’
s life is making a difference in
the lives of others. Sam’
s individual
accomplishments, such as making
All-City in high school, playing two
sports at the University of Detroit,
pitching on three national champi-
onship softball teams, being named
PSL Coach of the Year twice and
being inducted into the Michigan
Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, are won-
derful; but it was his relationship
with his former players and students
that truly made him special.
Sam came to Mumford in the fall
of 1965. At that time, the basketball
program at Mumford was mediocre
at best. The team won three cham-
pionships (the East Side league, the
state district and the state regional)
before losing in the state quarter-fi-
nals. Three years later, the team won
the city championship and made it
to the state semi-finals before losing.
From the day Sam got to Mumford
until the day he retired, he made
Mumford into an elite basketball
program that held its own against
the Pershings and Northwesterns of
the public school league. The effect
of that success was felt by everyone
in the Mumford com-
munity, from the players
to the students, parents,
teachers and neighbor-
hood residents.
Sam practiced “tough
love” with his players
and the other students
at Mumford. He treat-
ed everyone the same,
whether it was an All-State
center like Larry Moore or a kid in
gym class who couldn’
t hit the ocean
from the bridge of the ship. And
that is one of the reasons why all the
Mumford alumni remembered him
over the years.
Nothing speaks louder about
Sam Taub and his bond with his
former players than the fact that
more than 20 attended his funeral.
Some were not in the best physical
condition; others came from
long distances, but everyone
was there to make sure he
received a proper send-off
from people whom he helped
grow from teenagers into
adults. All benefited from
his “tough love” in high school and
wanted his family to know how
much he was appreciated.
Sam was the last of an era and we
will not see his like again. The Lord
giveth and the Lord taketh away, but
while the Lord may have taken away
his body, his soul and spirit will live
within all his former players for the
rest of our lives. ■
Thanks, Coach
STEVE FISHMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Coach Taub pointing
at Billy Berris, Steve
Fishman and Larry
Moore at dinner a
couple of years ago
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