Mike began his relationship with Lake Forest College when he enrolled as a freshman in 1954.  He graduated in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in history, and after serving in the Marine Corps, he took a job with the College as an assistant football coach in 1962. Throughout his years at the College, Mike has served as head football coach, baseball coach, founder and coach of the handball program, and athletic director.  In 2009, after having audited many courses at the College through the Community Education program, he started on his MLS degree  When asked why he started in the program, he said, “Carol Gayle, knowing I had been auditing courses at the College for years, coerced me into enrolling in the MLS program.  I was skeptical to begin with but soon learned that it’s never too late to explore one’s continuing ability to learn.”

Currently, Mike serves as the Athletic Department’s Historian in addition to being an assistant football coach and the head coach of the College’s handball team.  Because of his unique position of having been with the College’s athletic department for over fifty years, Mike devoted part of his MLS work to writing the history of athletics at Lake Forest College from 1880 to 1910. He wants to continue this history after he graduates, completing the third phase, 1910 to 1920 by the end of the summer.  During the 2016-2017 academic year he will try to complete the years 1920 to 1941. “God willing and good health I intend to complete the entire history before leaving the planet.”

“I highly recommend the MLS program for anyone looking for an educational challenge.  It has been one interesting course after another, with outstanding instructors. I am truly grateful for Carol Gayle challenging me.”