Michael A. (Mike) Anderson  - 1989
 

Mike was born December 12, 1959, in Birmingham and grew up there.  He graduated from Jackson-Olin High School in the spring of 1978 where he was an outstanding high school basketball player.  While at Jackson ? Olin High School, Mike was named to the All-State Tournament Team as a junior: All-City as a senior.  Mile signed a basketball scholarship with Jefferson State in the fall of 1978. He was an outstanding guard for the pioneers for two years, leading the team to cords of 19-7 and 24-10.  He was the team leader in 1979-80 as Jefferson State won the Region XXII Championship and then went on to finish second in the NJCAA Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.  This finish still stands as the highest for an Alabama junior college team. 
 

At Jefferson State he started every game for two years on teams with combined 43-17 record.  He was No. 2 all-time scorer with 1,047 points and No. 3 in assists with 313. During his 1979-80 season, he was co-captain of the team, All-Division, All-Region XXII and Honorable Mention All-American. Mike was selected as Most Valuable Player in the Region XXII Tournament.  He scored a career high 39 points in the championship game against a great Lawson State Team.  He was selected as Most Valuable Player of the post-season Alabama Junior College All-Star Game at Chattahoochee Valley State Community College and was selected to participate in the National Junior College All-Star Game in Hutchison, Kansas, where he was named the Best Defensive Player in the game. 
 

Following the National Tournament Mike signed with the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Mike joined with other players to form the nucleus for two great teams. In 1980-81 they had a 26-7 record and wont the National Invitational Tournament.  Mike was chosen as a member of the All ?Tournament Team.  In 1981-82 their record was 24-6, and they represented the Missouri Valley Conference in the NCAA Tournament.  He was a two year starter on teams with a combined record of 50-13.  As a junior he had 12 points, 4 assist and 2 steals per game.  He was the Most Valuable Player in the Oil Capital Classic at Tulsa and was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, as well as being Honorable Mention for the All-Conference Team. 
 

Mike graduated from the University of Tulsa in the spring of 1982.  He spent the next year as a teacher in the public schools of Tulsa.  He then worked with Coach Richardson at his alma mater as a volunteer coach for the next two seasons. When Coach Richardson went to the University of Arkansas as Head Coach 1985-86, Mike went with him as a volunteer assistant.  He continued capacity until the fall of 1988 when he was appointed to the position of full-time assistant coach.  Mike lives with his wife, Marcheita, a step daughter, Darcheita and their son, Michael.