Gallagher, Michael

 

MICHAEL GALLAGHER

Mike Gallagher is the proud son of Bernadette and Sylvester Gallagher and is a graduate of Lorain St. Mary’s High School in 1966. He stayed in the Lorain area for many years until he moved to Wooster to finish his teaching and coaching career. Mike played multiple sports at Lorain St. Mary’s earning two varsity letters in football and basketball and three varsity letters in baseball.

After graduation, Mike enrolled in Lorain County Community College and excelled on the college tennis team. Mike finished his education by transferring to Defiance College, continuing his skills on the college’s tennis team before graduating in 1972.

After graduating from Defiance College, Mike stayed in the area coaching at many Lorain County high schools. Mike’s first head coaching job was at South Amherst where he was the Head Football Coach and Assistant Girls Basketball and Track Coach. He also coached football, basketball, and track at Western Reserve High School. Mike also coached football and was the head track coach at his alma mater, Lorain Catholic High School. At Elyria Catholic High School, he was the Head Girls Basketball and Track Coach and Assistant Football Coach (winning two State Championships in football). At Wooster High School, he coached both football and golf and both teams were in the state tournament. He found his niche in coaching the Varsity Girls Basketball team at Wooster High School. Wooster competed in the torturous Federal League and in 102 games stretch his squads had an unfathomable record of 99-3. Many of his players received College Division 1 scholarships.

Among his proudest accomplishments at Wooster included 12 conference titles in 19 years, multiple regional berths which culminated in two Final Four appearances in Columbus. Mike’s head coaching record was an amazing 416 wins and 130 losses. Along the way, he was District Coach of the Year five times culminating with the OHSAA Division 1 Coach of the Year. Mike has been inducted into the Wayne County Hall of Fame, City of Wooster Hall of Fame, Defiance College Alumni Hall of Fame as well as the OHSAA Basketball Coach’s Hall of Fame. Mike also coached with his good friends Mark Albert and Jim Zak winning the National AAU 18 and under National Title in New Mexico. A distinguished honor not to be overlooked was his selection of the Clem Caraboolad Coach of the Year in 1996.

Mike wishes to convey his thanks to his parents, Bernadette and Sylvester, as well as his mentor, his college professor Randy Buchanan, who were the people who provided him with the strongest support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELCOME, MICHAEL GALLAGHER,
INTO THE LORAIN SPORTS HALL OF FAME

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