:Mike Mayerske

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1942–2022)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Mike Mayerske

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1942|9|24}}

| birth_place = Uniontown, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|10|28|1942|9|24}}

| death_place =

| alma_mater =

| player_years1 = 1961–1962

| player_team1 = Coffeyville

| player_years2 = 1963–1964

| player_team2 = Pittsburg State

| player_positions = Running back

| coach_years1 = 1966–1969

| coach_team1 = St. Joseph HS (IN) (assistant)

| coach_years2 = 1970–1971

| coach_team2 = Marian HS (IN)

| coach_years3 = 1972–1976

| coach_team3 = Concord HS (IN)

| coach_years4 = 1977–1981

| coach_team4 = Columbus HS (KS)

| coach_years5 = 1983

| coach_team5 = Pittsburg State (assistant)

| coach_years6 = 1984

| coach_team6 = Pittsburg State (interim HC)

| coach_years7 = 1985

| coach_team7 = Pittsburg State (DB)

| overall_record = 5–4 (college)

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

Michael Richard Mayerske (September 24, 1942 – October 28, 2022)Ancestry.com. U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. was an American football coach. He was the 11th head football coach at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, serving as interim head coach in 1984, and compiling a record of 5–4.[http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ii/miaa/pittsburg_state/coaching_records.php College Football Data Warehouse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920141605/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ii/miaa/pittsburg_state/coaching_records.php |date=September 20, 2010 }} Pittsburg State University Gorillas all-time coaching records{{cite news|title=Pittsburg St. names interim grid boss|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60506562/pittsburg-st-names-interim-grid-boss/|newspaper=The Salina Journal|date=June 13, 1984|page=17|via = Newspapers.com|access-date = October 4, 2020 }} {{free access}}

Early years

A native of Pennsylvania, Mayerske played high school football for Redstone High School from 1957 to 1960. After graduating, he received a scholarship in track and football from Coffeyville Junior College in Kansas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90194450/the-morning-herald/|newspaper=The Morning Herald|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 20, 1966|title=Ex-Redstone Athlete Gets Coaching Post}} {{Open Access}} In September 1962, Mayerske ranked fifth in the nation for junior colleges in rushing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90194571/the-evening-standard/|newspaper=The Evening Standard|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 5, 1962|title=Untitled}} {{Open Access}} He transferred to Kansas State University of Pittsburg in 1963, and was an all-conference running back with the team.

Coaching career

After graduating, Mayerske accepted a coaching position at St. Joseph High School as track coach and assistant football coach. He left for Marian High School in 1970, and was named head football coach at Concord High School in 1972.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90195697/the-south-bend-tribune/|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 30, 1972|title=New Coach The Favorite|author=Mishler, Earl}} {{Open Access}} When he joined Concord, the school was in a 23-game losing streak. He coached them for five years, and led them to a winning record in each season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90195938/the-iola-register/|newspaper=The Iola Register|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 17, 1977|title=Untitled}} {{Open Access}} At Concord, he was also assistant dean of students, a physical education teacher, track coach, and supervisor of the intramural program.{{cite news|title=Marian High Adds 15 to Staff|newspaper=The South Bend Tribune|date=September 17, 1970|page=41|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90247742/michael-mayerske/|via=Newspapers.com}}

He was named head coach at Columbus High School in 1977. He remained with the team for five years, before being fired in 1981 after a locker room incident in which he reportedly injured a student.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90196103/the-iola-register/|newspaper=The Iola Register|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 24, 1981|title=Mayerske to appeal}} {{Open Access}} In 1983, after being out of coaching for a year, he was hired by his alma mater, Pittsburg State University, as an assistant coach. He was named offensive coordinator in January 1984, but was promoted to head coach after they did not renew the contract of Bruce Polen.{{cite news|title=Mayerske replaces Polen at PSU|newspaper=The Parsons Sun|agency=Associated Press|date=June 13, 1984|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90247108/mayerske/|via=Newspapers.com}} He returned to the team in 1985 as defensive secondary coach after compiling a 5–4 record as head coach, and retired the following year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90196247/the-wichita-eagle/|newspaper=The Wichita Eagle|via=Newspapers.com|date=April 16, 1985|title=Untitled}} {{Open Access}}

Family and later years

Mayerske married Kaylene Gay Banzet in August 1963 at Coffeyville, Kansas.{{cite news|title=Kaylene G. Banzet Bride Of Michael R. Mayerske|newspaper=The Morning Herald|date=September 6, 1963|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90246727/kaylene-g-banzet-bride-of-michael-r/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Death

Mayerske passed away on October 28, 2022 at the age of 80.{{cite web|url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/kansas-city-mo/michael-mayerske-10987763|title=Michael R. Mayerske Obituary - Kansas City, MO|website=Dignity Memorial}}