Mike Evoy
Episode 229
19 JUNE 2023
He was a three-sport athlete in high school before going on to Siena Heights University, where he was on the baseball roster for two years. He was a CYO Athletic Director and coached basketball at two Catholic schools. At a different Catholic high school, he was the Athletic Director, before moving on to Associate Director of the Detroit Catholic High School League. He has also served as Chairperson (Lead Driver) of No Sports on Sunday in the Archdiocese of Detroit and is a Certified Play Like a Champion Sports Ministry Coach and Parent presenter. He’s the Athletics and Student Services Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Detroit in the Department of Catholic Schools.
Notable guest quotes:
“It was a focal point of the house. We always attended Mass on Sunday… My faith was exceptional, if you would, from the standpoint of all the resources. I lived across the street from our church, so, there was no reason not to be able just to stop in, say a prayer, go to Mass, see the priests, see the nuns just walking in the neighborhood. It was a faith-filled environment.”
“It was school, sports, faith, not necessarily in that order, right, but it was those three things that were always there for me.”
“And there again I was fortunate enough to have another caring coach who was a practicing Catholic. A good example for me as a young Catholic male to see that it was okay to be competitive in athletics but also a person of faith, going to Mass, leading us in prayer.”
“When I went to Mass I would see them in the pews. I would see them worshiping. And what a great example, I always feel, for young men to see other men practicing their faith.”
“If God blessed me with children – which He has – but at that time I didn’t know what the plan was, right, I wanted to be able to coach my kids. I wanted to be able to attend their games.”
“I made a point of talking to the young men about, ‘You gotta not only thank your guardian or your parents… give thanks for what God’s provided you in your life… Think about the sacrifice somebody has made to allow you to come and participate in basketball, to attend this school.”
“Holy Redeemer not only provided me all my sacraments, it led to meeting my wife, and we got married there as well… We were very, very fortunate; we had six priests and a bishop, all presided over our wedding.”
“We demonstrate and practice our faith. We start every athletic contest – if there’s a microphone available – we start it with prayer. Every level foreseeable.”
“Archbishop Vigneron called for a Synod… and one of the many fruits that came out of the Synod was No Sports on Sunday and they asked that I would be the Lead Driver of ensuring that this would happen… At no point was there an option of us not doing this. The Holy Spirit drove this.”
Related link:
Catholic High School League website
Book being given away as mentioned on this episode
