An elementary school teacher, George Bitner began his coaching career at Holton in 1965 then moved on to Spring Lake, taking over the boys golf program in 1968. In 1980, he started the girls golf program at Spring Lake.

With a “KISMIF” coaching motto – kept it simple, make it fun – his boys squads did well, advancing to state tournament play seven times, but his girls teams were exceptional. The ladies won 17 conference championships and qualified for state tournament play on 14 occasions, capped with three consecutive Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 girls golf titles between 2014-16.

In total, it was a coaching career that spanned over 90 combined seasons. Bitner was inducted into the Michigan Interscholastic Golf Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1996 and was named USA Today’s Boys Golf Coach of the Year in 2014.