Retiring Mason County Central AD/basketball coach Tim Genson reflects upon career

Mason County Central basketball coach Tim Genson has patrolled the sidelines and barked out orders for 24 years. He’s served as the school’s athletic director for 31 years.

Respectfully and even tongue-in-cheek, Spartans assistant coach Pat Chye likens Genson’s coaching style to a “dog on a chain.” Mason County Central senior standout Jayden Perrone calls his coach a “bulldog.”

Genson is tough but fair, and when he retires at the end of this school year, he’ll always be remembered as synonymous with Mason County Central and the leader of some of the Spartans’ best basketball teams in program history.

Genson, 55, a 1985 Mason County Central alumnus, is in his last-hurrah season on the Spartans’ bench.

MCC carries a 14-5 overall record and 7-2 mark in the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division into a showdown at unbeaten Hart tonight (Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023).

Genson guided Mason County Central to the Class C boys basketball state semifinals at the Breslin Center in 1997 and to a state runner-up finish in 1998, the season the Spartans finished 26-1. He has led MCC to five conference championships, eight district titles and two regional crowns. He has more than 300 victories on his coaching resume.

In addition to his coaching and AD duties, Genson has taught government and U.S. history at Mason County Central. He also coaches golf.

Genson has served as an educator for more than 33 years. He credits much of his success over the years to the support from wife Carrie and their son, Noah, who is now 26 and living in the Ann Arbor area.

“I’ve done everything but probably bottle washer at the school at one time or another,” Genson quipped.

Watch the video at the top of the story to hear from Genson and senior leaders Will Chye and Jayden Perrone, as well as MCC assistant coach Pat Chye and Ravenna coaching counterpart Courtney Kemp.

Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark