Mike Lake gears up for his tenth season at the helm of the Explorers after being appointed the ninth head baseball coach at La Salle in June 2007. A 1982 graduate of La Salle, Lake had spent the previous four seasons as the top assistant for La Salle.
The Explorers took series' from Stetson, Charleston Southern, and UNC Asheville on the road early in 2015 before taking A-10 series wins over St. Bonaventure, Richmond and Rhode Island.
Highlights of the 2014 season included securing bragging rights with a win over Villanova in the Big 5 Baseball Bash and wins over Lehigh and Delaware in the Liberty Bell Classic.
The 2013 season produced 24 wins, 15 coming in the Atlantic 10. The conference win tally set a program record, ousting the previous high of 14 set in 2010. The Explorers earned their third trip to the conference tournament in the past four seasons.
The 2012 season saw Lake's squad win 20 games behind the strength of their pitching staff.
In 2011, Lake took the program to new heights with 28 victories, the second most in program history. The Explorers also advanced to the Atlantic 10 Championship for the second consecutive year.
The 2010 season was a breakout one for Lake and his club. The third-year skipper was awarded the top honor in the conference and was named the 2010 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.
Lake helped lead the Explorers to the postseason for the second time in the program's history since joining the A-10. He also helped the team to the most A-10 league wins (14) ever and the most wins overall (22) since 1999.
The 1999 season was used as a barometer for the 2010 season as many of the numbers put up by the Explorers are the best/most since that team, which also went to the A-10 posteason and earned their skipper, Larry Conti, Coach of the Year honors.
In 2009, Lake increased his team's win total to 19, which included a season-opening 4-2 victory at Duke on Feb. 20, the team's first win over an ACC opponent as a member of the A-10 and only the second season-opening win of the decade (2004).
More highlights include taking two-of-three from Xavier, the eventual A-10 Champion, and winning their first game over Charlotte. The team also finished first in the A-10 and 18th in the nation in fielding percentage at .974.
As far as numbers for a squad this decade, the 2009 Explorers had the best batting average (.286), had the most hits (492), the most RBI (264), the most total bases (699), while tying for the most runs scored (283). They also posted just the second home winning record at 11-10 and, coupled with 2008, won the most back to back games at home (22) than any other time while in the A-10.
His first season in 2008 the team posted 16-36 overall record, but went 12-11 after April 5. The 11 conerence wins were the second-most ever in A-10 play and the most by a head coach in his first season at the school in league play.
In the four years before taking the head coaching position, Lake played a crucial part in the recruiting efforts for the Explorers. That included bringing Rich Prall and Gerard Breslin, two players drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007, and John Rickards, the 2008 A-10 First Team Second Baseman, La Salle's first infielder to earn the honor, to 20th and Olney.
During his time with the Explorers, three other players were selected in the Major League draft, each after their junior seasons, and all are still with their respective clubs, Craig Muschko, 2007, 22nd round, Chicago Cubs, TJ Chism, 2009, 32nd round, New York Mets and Cody Weiss, 2011, 14th round, Seattle Mariners.
Before La Salle, Lake was with Archbishop Ryan High School, putting in over 15 years of service. Most recently he was the head coach for the boys' varsity team (1991-2001), after starting there as the head coach of the junior varsity team. He then became the assistant coach of the varsity squad, before finally earning the head spot 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.
Also prior, Lake was highly involved with the semi-professional Penn-Del League. He played and coached for the RJM team and the Jenkintown Quakers, and also coached the Rachuba Squad. Lake won five consecutive League Championships with RJM from 1991-1995.
Lake graduated from La Salle with a degree in business management. He currently resides in Colmar, PA with his wife Arleen and their three children, Ashley, Kristyn, and Michael.
Lake Snapshot
Big 5 Coach of the Year (2010, 2011)...A-10 Coach of the Year (2010)...Three Atlantic 10 Postseason Berths...Nine All-A-10 Conference Selections...Five All A-10 Rookie Selections ...Four All A-10 Academic Selections...19 All Big 5 Selections...Six MLB Draft Selections
