Athletic Hall of Fame 2022: Mike Shea
Inducted as a Coach
Sport: Cross Country and Track
Mike Shea started the track and cross country programs at Cardinal Gibbons in 1976. A college athlete turned head coach at North Carolina State University; he harnessed his experience and passion for running to get the program off the ground.
His children, Julie, Mary, and Mark, were the early stars of the Gibbons program, which has continued to produce outstanding athletes and championship titles. Coach Shea’s commitment to our school has spanned three generations of Shea athletes, with grandson Lowell Hensgen graduating in 2019. Before launching the Gibbons program, he helped lead the Wolfpack to multiple ACC championships and had his own running success as the ACC’s two-mile champion two years in a row.
The early years before the school had ample facilities, and coaching staff were a challenge. Nevertheless, coach Shea organized the first group of athletes, finding creative places for students to run, including the area behind the Nazareth Orphanage and over to Lake Raleigh on land owned by the Diocese of Raleigh at the time.
Coach Shea later leveraged his ties to N.C. State to allow Gibbons students practice opportunities on the Wolfpack track. Alumni runners have fond memories of making their way to the other side of Western Boulevard to meet him for afternoon practice.
His selfless determination to find ways for Gibbons runners to compete has touched decades of students. Mike constantly looked for opportunities for the team to race, renting a van to transport the group throughout North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.
In addition to a coaching career that spanned three decades, Coach Shea also helped get the school’s tennis and swimming programs off the ground, generously sharing his time and knowledge with the new coaches.
While Coach Shea is well known for his athletic achievements, he is also deeply committed to his family and faith. He lived out his faith by teaching his teams the value of good sportsmanship and loving one another.
“Athletics has been a big part of our family’s life, but it was only part. Our religion has been more important,” Coach Shea said.
Dave Schweikert ’86 said Coach Shea encouraged the team to support each other’s success in a sport typically defined by individual performance.
“We were cheering each other along, which made Gibbons stand out because it was the only school showing such enthusiasm and team spirit,” Schweikert said.
Many alumni athletes who nominated Coach Shea praised his patience and dedication to their success, pointing out that he was always willing to stay late to help them improve their times.