Mike was a friend and an excellent line coach.  Mike had been the head coach and athletic director at one of San Pasqual High School’s most bitter rivals, Orme Ranch.  He had asked me in 1976 if there were any openings at San Pasqual, as he wanted to make a career move.  The year 1977, saw San Pasqual High School with a new math teacher and the football team with a new line coach . . . a great new piece that contributed tremendously to the undefeated state championship that year.

One of the attached pictures of Mike indicates the philosophy embraced by the coaching staff—prepare diligently and enjoy life.  Coach Brockert and Coach Lovell are seen contemplating chess moves at a gas station on the freeway while awaiting a bus from Seton High School to pick up the team after two San Pasqual buses had broken down that day on the way to the championship game and a possible undefeated season; the team was prepared and coaches were enjoying life.

Coaching with Mike, and our families doing things together, was a rewarding and enjoyable part of my life, and making loosing him just a few months ago more difficult to accept.

Mike was scheduled to do his interview for the Forgotten Warriors documentary and to also play in the Forgotten Warriors first golf tournament . . . two months later he had passed away.  Two months after Mike passed, his son, Brian, passed away from brain cancer—Brian was my daughter’s age and they rode horses together at Orme Ranch when they were little ones.

Life is never fair or predictable and very fleeting, which always gives added volume to remembering those you care about and the nice experiences you shared with them.

Remembering Mike, and joys and successes together, is at once sad but joyful and gives even more meaning and urgency to the creation of a movie, ‘The Forgotten Warriors.’  To the memories of all we have lost, still have with us and the history of a special time that should never be allowed to die--rest in peace, Mike and Brian—from all of us.

Coach Mundell