BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
In the high stakes game of university basketball, it takes a highly motivated and dedicated person to assume the coaching duties of one of the most storied programs in Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) history and continue the success.
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Mike Clarke, Laurentian University?s women?s basketball coach, loves his job. |
And that?s exactly what Mike Clarke has done with the Laurentian University women?s basketball team, one of the most decorated teams to ever grace a university basketball court.
It?s not an easy job, and typically basketball is on Clarke?s mind 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
It has to be because in order to stay ahead of the game, one has to stay on top of the opposition.
A coaching job, like the one at Laurentian, just doesn?t get thrown into one?s lap. It?s a position that?s earned.
?You have to pay your dues,? said Clarke. ?I coached college basketball for four seasons and you have to qualify yourself through the National Coaching Certification Program.?
The head coaching position is a demanding one. During the regular season, Clarke usually puts in 10-12 hour days in order to have his troops ready for the next battle.
?There?s practice, a lot of video analysis and preparation work for the other team,? said Clarke. ?I also do a lot of individual work with the players and monitor their academics. I am usually up late watching video tapes of games.?
On top of that workload, Clarke also spends a great deal of time recruiting players.
?Recruiting is a big part of my job,? said Clarke. ?I travel to see kids and spend a lot of time making phone calls, sending e-mails and networking with other coaches.?
And when the Ontario Federation of School?s Athletics Association (OFSAA) senior girl?s ?AAA? basketball championship was in town, Clarke was even busier. It was a perfect opportunity for Clarke to scout players from all across the province. He spent plenty of time looking at potential future Voyageurs.
?You have to think strategically in advance,? said Clarke. ?I have already identified a great number of grade 10 and 11 players. You can?t wait until the end of their final high school year and hope they pick your school.?
For Clarke, there?s nothing better than taking talented, raw players and moulding them into successful university players.
?I pride myself and sell the program on the fact players will come here and improve over the course of their career,? said Clarke.
Does the work ever end for Clarke?
?Not really,? said Clarke. ?In the off season you have administration work, but when summer rolls around, it?s time for a little break. You really need it. When the season is on though, it?s not often basketball isn?t on my mind.?
Clarke has made his passion in life his full-time job.
?I can?t image doing anything else,? said Clarke. ?I worked really hard to get here. I work hard to stay here. I think
I am very lucky to coach university basketball.?
To do his job, Clarke has plenty of support in and out of the university.
?I have had a lot of support from my family and Laurentian staff,? said Clarke. ?There couldn?t be a better place to coach.?
Clarke?s value isn?t lost at the institution.
?We knew we had our guy because of his presence, basketball knowledge and ability to recruit,? said Peter Hellstrom, LU Chair of Athletics. ?It?s a huge plus for Laurentian to have a guy of Mike?s calibre.?
Clarke was born and raised in Kelowna, British Columbia. He was a five-year starter for the University of British
Columbia Thunderbirds basketball team. He has a wife, Janice, and two children, Shannon and Patrick.
