A graduate of Sheffield High School in 1975 Mike was an outstanding member of the football and baseball teams. As a member of the Bulldog football team he played on the State Runner-up Team in 1975. He was elected a permanent Team Captain by his teammates and was named the Most Valuable Offensive Lineman that same year. In baseball he was part of the 1975 State Championship Team, elected Team Captain and was chosen the MVP in the East-West All-Star Game. Following high school he was signed to a baseball scholarship by Calhoun Community College and was part of teams that won two Conference Championships, A State Championship and Regional Title. He was Team Captain and received the War Hawks Leadership Award. Upon Completing two years at Calhoun, he received a baseball scholarship to the University of North Alabama,winning the Golden Glove Award for the Lions and had a career batting average of .310.