Lashley to be inducted into NHSACA Hall of Fame

Andrew Towne
Posted 11/22/19

LINGLE – The list of career coaching accomplishments continues to grow for Lingle-Fort Laramie track and field coach Mike Lashley.

On Monday, Lashley was named one of two coaches from the state of Wyoming who will be inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame in the summer of 2020, joining Cody High School coach Keith Francik.

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Lashley to be inducted into NHSACA Hall of Fame

Posted

LINGLE – The list of career coaching accomplishments continues to grow for Lingle-Fort Laramie track and field coach Mike Lashley.

On Monday, Lashley was named one of two coaches from the state of Wyoming who will be inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame in the summer of 2020, joining Cody High School coach Keith Francik.

The honor comes six years after the long-time Dogger coach was inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

However, Lashley stresses an honor like this wasn’t done alone.

“I have been able to work with some amazing athletes over the years,” he said. “Just as important, I have been able to work shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best coaches in the state of Wyoming.”

The NHSACA’s Hall of Fame ceremony will be held on July 20-23 in Lincoln, Neb.

Lashley was on his way to Lincoln for a University of Nebraska football game on Saturday, Sept. 14 with a handful of other L-FL coaches when he received the call from the Hall of Fame committee.

Lashley’s tenure at L-FL began in 1990, coaching track, volleyball, basketball and wrestling at both the high school and junior high levels.

As a volleyball coach, Lashley’s teams won 318 matches, five conference championships, three regional titles and two state runners-up. In track, he has earned 15 state championships, seven state runners-up, 21 conference titles and 25 regional championships.

During his time in Lingle, Lashley was named WCA Coach of the Year nine times and Conference Coach of the Year 13 times. He has also been a NHSACA National Track and Field Coach of the Year Finalist two times.

“The day-to-day opportunities to work the athletes and coaches is what keeps me going. Ultimately that’s what means the most to me,” Lashley said. “That’s what has been special about my career. I’ve worked with some phenomenal athletes.”

But it’s not just the athletes. He has learned from every coach he’s been around.

“I’ve learned something from every single coach I’ve worked with,” Lashley said. “Whether they were my assistant, or I was their assistant, every single coach I’ve taken something away from them and tried to incorporate it into my program.”

Looking back, Lashley couldn’t share just one story which stood in his mind from his years of coaching.

“There have been so many things. So many big events, championships and those kinds of things, but often it’s those little day-to-day things that happen that stick in your mind, providing encouragement to you,” he said. “I feel very blessed to have been at Lingle for the last 30 years. I don’t know why God put me in this place at this time to be able to experience the things I did. I’m very grateful that he did.”