West Liberty University Athletics

    Mike Matsakis spent almost four decades as a distinguished coach, teacher and administrator in the Ohio Valley after excelling on the West Liberty gridiron. After graduating from Warwood High School in 1951, Matsakis enrolled at West Liberty but was inducted into military service during the Korean Conflict. He fulfilled his military commitments and again enrolled at West Liberty in 1955.
    Matsakis was a four-year letterman at guard (1955-59), playing both offense and defense under legendary coaches Joe Bartell and Ollie Olson. In 1956, he was a starter on the last of the many WVIAC championship teams that Bartell coached during his lengthy and successful tenure.
    Following his graduation from WLSC, Matsakis spent the next ten years at Powhatan High School as a teacher, coach, and athletic director. During a three-year run from 1965-68, his football teams posted an outstanding 24-6 record. When Powhatan consolidated into River High School, he joined Martin Flannery’s football staff and helped lead the Pilots to an unbeaten and untied season.
    He moved on to Shadyside High in 1975 and spent the next 21 years as an assistant coach, guidance counselor, and athletic director before retiring in 1996.