Kirkland guided Northwestern to successive state Class A boys’ basketball championships in 1984 and ’85, while appearing in the semifinals for three straight years. His Northwestern teams set a state Class A record by winning 60 consecutive games from 1984-86. Under Kirkland, Northwestern set a Saginaw Valley Conference mark by winning four successive league championships with undefeated records from 1983-86. During this period, his teams also set a Flint record by winning 20 consecutive City Series games.
