Longtime Hopkins High School football and softball coach Mick Francis is in the fight for his life after diagnosis last January of an advanced stage of cancer.

Francis, who was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2005, has been told by his physicians that he has between four and six months to live because he has Stage IV esophogal and liver cancer. He has been undergoing treatment, but the disease is a daunting challenge.

“After chemotherapy treatment, it’s true that it takes years to feel alive… with the side effects of the chemotherapy and radiation, you will never be back to 100% because of the weakened immune system,” he posted on Facebook. “Cancer is a very invasive and destructive enemy of our bodies. After the end of the treatment, the body remains devastated. Recovery from the damage caused by the treatment of the disease is a very long process.”

Francis, a 1967 high school graduate, earned his associate’s degree at Alpena Community College and his bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. He came to Hopkins in 1973.

He has been director of driver education, social studies teacher and elementary physical education teacher. He coached football, softball, basketball and volleyball.

In his 30 years of coaching football, all at Hopkins High School, his record was 190-73-3. He was selected MHSFCA Assistant Coach of the Year in 1996 and was a staff member of the Vikings’ state finalist teams in 1999 and 2002 under head coach Rex Weaver.

Francis, Weaver, Jim Newell and Glenn Noble all are in the Michigan Football Coaches’ Hall of Fame.

Though Francis retired as a teacher and driving instructor, he has continued coaching varsity football as an assistant to his son, head coach Cody Francis, even into last fall.

He also was a longtime softball coach, guiding the Lady Vikings to a number of league and district championships.

Not surprisingly, Francis has refused to take the grim news lying down.

“Sure, in the most difficult moments of life you realize who your real friends are or the people who really appreciate you.

“I choose to live,” he concluded.

Besides Francis, Hopkins Board of Education member Karen Ryan is battling multiple myleoma.