Henry Ford II court renamed in honor of former basketball coach

Coach Jim Barker spent countless hours on the Henry Ford II court guiding basketball teams to more than 500 wins.

And in recognition of those countless hours he invested over a 32-year career, he now will be a permanent part of the school.

The Utica Community School Board of Education unanimously voted the to name the site at Henry Ford II where he spent so many years the "Coach Barker Court."

"I'm awed by this," Barker said of the honor. "This certainly tops anything I've ever accomplished in my career."

Barker is one of the few Michigan coaches who have earned more than 500 wins for the same high school.

He is a lifetime member of the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan, is a member of the organization's Hall of Fame and has been inducted into the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Hall of Fame.

He has multiple coach of the year honors from print organizations as well as being named Macomb County Coach of the Year five times by his peers.

"Jim is truly a legend in high school basketball throughout the State of Michigan," wrote a team of Henry Ford parents and staff members in requesting the honor. "He is known in all corners of the state as a man with integrity whose basketball teams were always tough to play against."

A dedication ceremony will be held at Henry Ford II to officially rename the court at the beginning of the next basketball season.

"This is a tremendous honor," Barker said. "I can't thank the people who worked on this enough."