Mike Doherty (born October 30, 1936) became the winningest Oregon high school coach in any sport thanks to an amazing 50-year tenure as coach and teacher all around the state. He won a total of 850 games while coaching nine different programs.
Always buttoned-down and organized, Mike’s coaching career began at Washington High in Portland in 1963. He was still in graduate school at the University of Oregon at that time.
Three years later, Doherty became the first basketball coach at newly opened McNary High School in Keizer. In just three seasons, he won a state championship with the Celtics.
Next stop, Reynolds in Troutdale, 107 wins in six seasons, followed by one of Mike’s greatest tenures, sixteen seasons at Corvallis High School. The Spartans won 299 games during that stretch, two state championships and two more place trophies.
Then a change of scene, seven years east of the Cascade mountains. Four seasons at Baker, three more in Hermiston followed by another extended run of success in Oregon City.
Nowe retired from teaching; Doherty’s Pioneer teams won 231 games and three league championships in twelve seasons and came within one game of another state title. During that tenure, Mike won National Coach of the Year honors in 2007. He was 71 years old when O.C. played in the 2008 title game, still shooting scouting video while wearing a suit and tie.
Mike Doherty retired from coaching in 2012. In 50 years, his record included 41 winning seasons, 37 postseason appearances and 21 league championships as well as the three state championships.
Along the way Mike also coached youth and younger age groups , dabbled in writing and was an original Trail Blazer season ticket holder.