GLADSTONE – It’s often debated whether players make the coach or the coach makes the players.

There’s solid arguments for both, but what can often be agreed upon is that great coaches get the most out of the talent they work with.

Karl Dollhopf did just that during a remarkably consistent 23-year high school career as a varsity coach, most recently with the Gladstone Braves girls program, where he has spent the previous eight seasons.

Dollhopf announced his retirement from coaching at the varsity level in April. His replacement, Eric Lundin, was named to replace him on Monday.

“I wanted to leave when I felt good about everything, and I feel good about Eric taking over,” Dollhopf said earlier this week. “He has some talent in place, some talent coming up in the junior high program.

“I had a gut feeling that it was the right time, and I feel fortunate that I had someone like Eric that I felt comfortable with. He’ll do a great job.”

Over Dollhopf’s career, he may be the only person to have coached the girls and boys varsity programs at both Escanaba and Gladstone. He has also won a district title with each program.

Dollhopf’s career record between girls and boys varsity basketball is 279-224. He is one of two coaches in Upper Peninsula history to be named All-U.P. Coach of the Year as a girls coach (Gladstone in 2012) and as a boys coach (Escanaba in 1995). The other is Paul Polfus of Carney-Nadeau.

But Dollhopf reached the height of his coaching success with the Gladstone girls varsity program, winning the first two regional titles in program history in 2011 and 2012.

“In 2012, we lost our first (regular season) game at Negaunee, and then rattled off 24 straight wins and ended up in the state quarterfinal, like the year before,” Dollhopf said.

“Having that type of string, it was just the girls going out and playing.

“What was really special about the whole deal was the different relationships you build. Kids move on, go to college, get jobs; it’s kind of neat.”

Through coaching, Dollhopf has made many friends and colleagues. It’s those relationships he said he’ll miss most.

“It’s amazing when you coach, the different relationships you build. There’s great coaches in the Great Northern Conference I enjoyed working with and coaching against,” he said. “The officials, too. I’ve seen most of them over the last 30 years and that got to be fun after a while. I’ll miss that more than anything.”

As a coach on both sides of the Delta County rivalry, boys and girls, Dollhopf has a unique perspective.

“To be a part of that was awesome,” Dollhopf said. “That matchup is fun, there’s no other way to put it. That’s what high school is all about.”

Dollhopf’s head coaching career began with the Escanaba boys in 1989.

“One of my first years coaching at Esky was 1990 and John Barnes was a senior there,” he said. “John is now the head coach at Youngstown State. We stay in contact and that’s nice.

“It was a special year. Nick Bink was part of it, so was Brian Robinette, who is now a teacher. I had Scott Hanson at Esky, and he was a JV coach with me for a long time. Those relationships were pretty special.”

With the Braves, Dollhopf was known for getting the most out of his players. He didn’t always have the most talented team, but he had hard-working teams that played fundamental basketball.

“I think they tapped out on their potential, and what they had to give, which is one thing I took a lot of pride in,” Dollhopf said. “They were kids who worked hard and played blue-collar basketball.

“Even if they shot poorly some nights, they were always going to get the loose balls and play defense. The girls were very cooperative and bought in, and their families bought in.”