Airport's Darrell Mossburg named Girls Basketball Coach of the Year

Mossburg stayed close to the team during his recovery, helping assistant Luke Baker with practice and game plans. He was finally cleared to resume his role as head coach in time for the state tournament.

Airport enjoyed the greatest season in school history, going undefeated in the Huron league in crafting a 24-3 record, winning a regional title for the first time and reaching the state quarterfinals before getting derailed by defending champion Tecumseh.

Airport girls basketball coach Darrell Mossburg talks to his team during a 60-50 win over Flat Rock in the finals of the Division 2 Girls Basketball District at Flat Rock on Friday, March 6, 2026.

Mossburg has been named Monroe County Region Girls Basketball Coach of the Year.

“I saw these girls in the fourth or fifth grade and knew they could be one of the better teams we’ve ever had,” he said. “It turned out to be a fabulous year for everyone involved.”

Fabulous and frightening.

Doctors made a startling discovery during Mossburg’s emergency surgery in December.

“My body had created new arteries to the intestine to get the blood flowing,” he said. “A CAT scan found four new arteries forming. To keep it simple, I tell people I had a severe heart attack. But what I had was very rare. They called me Case 168.”

It might be described another way.

“You could call it a miracle,” he said.

His team helped him through the recovery.

Acting Airport girls basketball coach Luke Baker talks to his team during a 65-22 victory over Ann Arbor Pioneer on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.

“SMCC (Dec. 18) was the first game I was able to watch in the hospital,” he said. “It was a little different. I knew I had to do whatever it took to get back.”

The team visited him about a week later.

“It was very emotional when the kids came to see me a day or two before Christmas,” Mossburg said. “They all came together right after practice.”

By Dec. 29, doctors allowed Mossburg to attend an Airport game.

Baker took over as interim coach.

“Luke puts in a lot of time for our program,” Mossburg said. “He watches film and does a great job scouting. I knew they were in great hands while I rested.”

Mossburg often attended practices and sat on the bench for many games before taking the reins again in March.

“One of my goals was always to get back before the end of the season,” he said. “I knew we had a special team this year. Obviously, I didn’t want to miss it. Life can throw you some curveballs, but you’ve got to keep pushing.”

Mossburg’s family tried to make sure he didn’t push too hard, too soon.

His daughter is an assistant coach for the team and his wife kept the scorebook for his first few games back.

“The doctors were concerned about my blood pressure,” he said. “Chelsea and Lori tried to keep me calmed down.”

Has this experience changed Mossburg?

“Some will say, ‘No, it hasn’t,’” he said with a chuckle. “It does make me respect each day more. If you are able to wake up each morning and put your feet on the ground, you have to try to have a great day.

“This made me appreciate things more.”

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Airport basketball coach Darrell Mossburg shaped by near-death episode