June 27, 2007

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle University Athletic Department announced today that Mike Lake will become the ninth Baseball Head Coach at the school. A 1982 graduate of La Salle, Lake had spent the last four seasons as the top assistant for the Explorers.

In the last four years, he has played a crucial part in the recruiting efforts for the Explorers, which included bringing both Rich Prall and Gerard Breslin - two players drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies three weeks ago - to 20th and Olney.

Lake came to La Salle from Archbishop Ryan High School where he put in over 15 years of service. Most recently he was the head coach for the boys' varsity team (1991-2001). He made his way from being the head coach of the junior varsity team to assistant coach of the varsity squad and finally earned his head coaching status in 1991.

While the head coach at Archbishop Ryan, Lake was named the Catholic League Northern Division Coach of the Year by the Philadelphia Umpires Association in 1996 and 1999. Lake was also a three-time City of Philadelphia Coach of the Year award winner, issued by the Philadelphia Newspapers Association, in 1994, 1996, and 1999.

He led his team to the Catholic League Northern Division Regular Season Championship in 1991, 1996, and 1999. Under his guidance, Archbishop Ryan won the Catholic League Championship in 1998.

Lake will inherit a team that lost six players - three to the Major League draft - but returns a core of veterans led by John Rickards and Dennis Burge. He becomes the ninth head coach of the La Salle program, which will enter its 62 season in 2008.

_