Born and raised in the suburbs of San Francisco, sports have always been a big part of his life. Mike learned basic swimming skills in a neighborhood backyard program and progressed through the Red Cross levels: Beginner 1 to Junior Lifesaving. through his high school years.

While attending the US Military Academy, West Point, he validated the swimming course requirement in PE and completed Advanced Lifesaving & Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification. While a cadet, he started distance running in combination with swimming and shooting as part of the Intramural Triathalon program.

Commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army in 1978, he qualified for a spot on the USA South Team Handball squad and competed in the 1979 National Sports Festival at the Olympic & USAF Academy facilities of Colorado Springs, CO.

Meanwhile, he extended distance running to marathon length, eventually completing eleven 26.2 milers (with a personal record of 2 hrs 47 minutess) in between field training exercises. From marathons to Triathalons; In 1981, he completed in the Ironman event on the big island of Hawaii.

He was able to keep his WSI certification current until 1983 by training lifeguards for the military recreation areas. After military retirement in 2002, Mike began teaching math at Mount Zion High School in Clayton County and became head coach for the girls volleyball team. This past year he added swimming head coach to his duties. The summer of 2004 he began his second season as head swimming coach for the Fairfield Area Swim Team (FAST), and Age-Group program in the Southern Crescent Swim League (SCSL). As swimmers progress through the Swimmerman program, (and as we can make our vision for a swim complex a reality) he would like to coach for a Swimmerman team.