The first major work of the Association was the writing of constitution, by-laws, and purpose. Paul Smarks was elected as the charter President; Bob Hayes of Port Huron was the charter Vice-President. Brick Fowler of Port Huron was appointed Secretary-Treasurer.

Early on the Association felt the need for an organization to officially represent the high school coaches of the state both within the schools and to the Representative Council which is the policy making body of the Michigan High School Athletic Association. A need was also seen for a group to represent the coaches of Michigan nationally with other state associations.

The mission of the MHSCA has not changed all that much since the early days of the association. Today there are over 8500 members representing all the different sports that the MHSAA conducts tournaments in and a couple that they do not. The MHSCA maintains affiliation with the National Federation Coaches Association and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association. Since the founding of the MHSCA in 1955 different sport groups have formed their own sport coaching associations and the MHSCA has become sort of the umbrella under which these different sport groups fall. Membership in the MHSCA comes mainly the constituent sport associations in the state. A member can join the MHSCA as an individual but it is a better deal for a person to join through their sport association.

The MHSCA Hall of Fame originally was the idea of Brick Fowler, who felt that some recognition should be given to people who had served many years in the coaching field. This idea was adopted and the first class of the MHSCA Hall of Fame was inducted in 1957. In 1962 a Hall of Fame Room was established in Win Schuler’s restaurant in Marshall. Through the generosity of the Paul Smarks estate, the Hall of Fame Room was moved to the Student Services Building (Student Union) of Central Michigan University in 1971. The Hall was moved to the Student Activities Center adjacent to the Dan Rose Arena in 1996. With the class of 2002 membership now will total 470 members. Qualifications for membership are as follows: one must have served a minimum of twenty five years in high school sports, and must have exemplified high standards of performance and service to his/her sport, school, community, state and affiliated organizations.

This is the group, which administers the high school tournaments in Michigan. The Representative Council today (2002) is comprised of 19 members representing different areas of the state, different sizes and kinds of schools. Most of the members are elected but some are appointed in order to insure minority and gender representation. This body then appoints or hires the Executive Director to carry out their mandates. Membership in the MHSAA is voluntary on the part of each of the schools, but of course if a school wants to participate in the MHSAA tournaments, they have to be a member of the MHSAA. Most of the members of the Rep Council are principals, superintendents, or athletic directors. There is one faculty member coach, one school board member, and one ex-officio member representing the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Michigan.