From teaching Business Education to coaching the boy’s varsity basketball team at Oak Hills, Mike Price seems to practically live at Oak Hills High School. Teaching for over 40 years, coaching for over 30 years, and being the assistant athletic director for over 25 years, Price has become well-known all over the district.
But how did Price get to where he is today? After being cut from the 7th grade basketball team, his parents encouraged him to continue playing basketball which he did throughout high school. He tried other sports, but they didn’t seem to work with him like basketball did. Price says, “I tried other sports, wasn’t very good at baseball or soccer, wasn’t allowed to play football when I was that age…I just love basketball so much.”
In college, he majored in accounting while also coaching younger kids: “I felt like I had more of an impact coaching than being an accountant, I saw the impact I could have on young people,” says Price.
Price then went on to get his Bachelor of Arts in dual majors of Business and Economics from Wittenberg University, and got an education degree from the University of Cincinnati. Returning to Oak Hills was an obvious choice for him. “All but four years of my life both in school and as teacher-coach have been at Oak Hills. I like the people and the community. I felt it was an opportunity to give back.”
From when he returned to Oak Hills to today, he’s left a major impact on the people around him: “He has had a huge impact on my life. I’ve developed as a person, as a father, as a teacher” says Greg Rolfes, the assistant varsity basketball coach. “Not a lot is different from Coach Price vs. non-Coach Price. He’s very giving of his time.”
Many people think that what he does for the Oak Hills program and community can be a lot on his plate especially with teaching, coaching, and being the assistant athletic director. But really, Price says “I don’t really have a problem balancing teaching and coaching because I just love what I am doing,” and that they “work hand in hand.”
He is also involved with other programs such as the FCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and still leads them, even if he isn’t in charge of it. “I’m not in charge of it, but I certainly try to take a leadership role with it just to make sure that the athletes understand how I think it’s important,” he remarked.
Price was also very encouraged by the growth of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. “We started last year with as few as 20-25 people, it’s already grown and I hope it continues to grow and athletes get involved and we get out into the community, but that’s hard to do with so many of you athletes being pulled in many different directions.”
Mr Price’s legacy is all over Oak Hills. But when asked for the achievement he considered his greatest, he began with a story. “I went to a former athlete’s wedding recently and saw many of my former athletes as adults living successful lives. I was very proud of how my former athletes became successful after high school.” It’s very clear that Price cares a lot for the students and athletes he interacts with, and they are his greatest accomplishment.
“You can’t help but be affected by how much he cares about the program, about the students, and how much he gives back” remarked Rolfes.
