Janisch has been a varsity baseball coach at Silver Creek for 44 years, and a varsity cross country coach for 40 years. Janisch has previously won the Coach of the Year award in New York State, in addition to his resume on the field that includes eight league titles, four Section VI championships, and two Far West Regional victories. As a cross country coach, Janisch’s teams — boys and girls — earned 19 league championships, as well as 14 Sectional Championships.

Silver Creek Athletic Director Sean Helmer stated, “Mike has always went about things the right way. He has always been a student of the game, coached with passion, and showed respect for his opponent. Mike held his athletes and himself to a higher standard. His accomplishments are great, but he is an even greater person.”

In 2023, Janisch became the all-time winningest coach in Chautauqua County history with his 510th victory. He did so with a 7-2 win over the Brocton Bulldogs at Silver Creek High School on May 19. After the game, Janisch called it “a really neat accomplishment.”

Janisch has always had the respect of fellow coaches. He was welcomed as an assistant on Frank Jagoda’s staff last season in Dunkirk as Silver Creek did not field a varsity team a year ago. Dunkirk won a Sectional title last season with Janisch along for the ride.

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Silver Creek varsity baseball coach Mike Janisch is pictured during a game in 2023 in which he became the all-time wins leader in Chautauqua County with 510 victories.

On the day of Janisch’s county record sealing win, the losing coach, Rob Fetterick of Brocton, said of Janisch, “He’s a class act. I would consider him one of my mentors. … He’s seen me grow since I was a whipper-snapper in the coaching world. Mike is a great guy, he’s always there – if I need something, I’ll give him a call. He’s always there to lend a helping hand. You can’t say enough about him.”

The night Janisch set the county wins record, Matt Mazurek, the head coach at Canisius College, called Janisch a “living legend” and credited Janisch for the role he played in his own success.

For Janisch, it was not about trying to reach the top of any list. He just wanted to make an impact on young men through sports.

“The whole point of coaching is to get to work with kids,” Janisch said.