By Laura Hancock
Media and Publications Writer
lhancock@eou.edu
La Grande, Oregon – For the Southridge Skyhawks, a whopping 29-0 record of straight wins is tough to beat. For Eastern Oregon University alum and Skyhawks Coach Michael Meek, basketball is in his blood.
Meek, a 1999 graduate of EOU, was voted Oregon’s 4A Coach of the Year in March. In his college days, he played basketball under EOU coach Art Furman during the ’93-’94 season. As a new coach at EOU, Furman didn’t know any of the players, but he quickly recognized Meek’s potential.
“He proved to me that he should be one of the top players,” said Furman. “He was a student of the game.”
The love of the game runs in the Meek family. Furman remembers that Michael’s father, George, was a big supporter and visible presence during Michael’s years playing college basketball. From playing hoops, Meek went on to coaching the game. He began by helping out Eastern’s junior varsity basketball team. Before long, Meek was coaching teams at La Grande High School. Working his way up, Meek spent two years coaching the freshman and junior varsity teams, and stayed on to coach the LHS Tigers girls varsity basketball team for three years.
Meek grew up in Puyallup, Wash., an outlying area of Tacoma. When he made the move to attend college, the small-town atmosphere of La Grande reached out to him like a welcoming hand.
“I really liked living in La Grande,” he said. “Going to Safeway meant meeting someone you knew every time. I miss that smallness.”
In 2000, Meek and his wife, Lisa, made the difficult decision to move away. Meek had a good job offer at Southridge High School in Beaverton, and he felt it was an opportunity he could not pass up. Getting the chance to coach at a larger school would be a progression in his career, he felt. The Southridge Skyhawks would be his new team.
“We had a good year,” said Meek of his team’s latest 29-0 win record this season. “I’m really lucky to have such great kids.”
Meek remembers the rush when the Skyhawks played their best in front of a crowd of 4,000 in the Challis Center at the University of Portland. His team took home the state championship that day. Shortly after his team’s big win, The Oregonian newspaper conducted an annual poll to select the coaches of the year in Oregon.
Coaches from more than 80 4A level schools in the state, including Meek, cast their vote to decide who would receive the title. On March 27, Meek opened up The Oregonian to find his name listed as Oregon’s 4A Coach of the Year.
“I knew our team was really good, but I also knew there was a lot of competition,” said Meek. “I feel honored, but it’s really about the kids.”
In building relationships with the individuals on his team, Meek takes great joy watching each one make progress. This is the true reward for Meek. That and knowing his wife Lisa and daughter McKelle are in the stands watching every game.
Meek hopes that basketball will be a sport he and his daughter can enjoy together. For right now, the most exciting parts of the game for three-year-old McKelle are watching the Skyhawks mascot take to the court and singing the national anthem.
Michael and Lisa are expecting their second child in July, and being a dad will be his coaching job for life, on the court and off. The possibility of moving back to the La Grande area to teach and coach at the college level would be ideal, he said, but he is looking forward to next year’s season with the Skyhawks.
He keeps an open mind when it comes to the future of his career. Wherever he goes, Meek will give all the credit to the young athletes he coaches, which may one day include his daughter.
Eastern Oregon University
University Advancement
One University Boulevard
Ackerman Hall, Room 209
La Grande, OR 97850
Phone: 541-962-3740
Fax: 541-962-3680
Email: advancement@eou.edu