Mike Lashuk
{{Short description|Canadian football player (1938–2023)}}
{{Infobox CFL player
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1938|12|9}}
| birth_place = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|10|24|1938|12|9}}
| death_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| Height_ft = 6
| Height_in = 0
| Weight_lb = 185
| status = Retired
| import = n
| position1 = Fullback
| position2 = Linebacker
| position3 = Punter
| number = 28
|amateur_title= AJFL
|amateur_team= Edmonton Huskies
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| DraftedRound =
| career_highlights = Led team in rushing 1962 for 802 yrds
| Awards = Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy (1957)
| Honors =
| Records =
| Retired #s =
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| DatabaseFootball =
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| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|1957}}–{{CFL Year|1963}}
| playing_team1 = Edmonton Eskimos
| coaching_years1 = 1962–1963
| coaching_team1 = Ross Sheppard High School
| coaching_years2 = 1964
| coaching_team2 = Crescent Heights High School
| coaching_years3 = 1966
| coaching_team3 = Edmonton Wildcats
| coaching_years4 = 1967
| coaching_team4 = Henry Wise Wood High School
| coaching_years5 = 1968
| coaching_team5 = University of Calgary (Asst.)
| coaching_years6 = 1969–1976
| coaching_team6 = University of Calgary
| coaching_years7 = 1978–1982
| coaching_team7 = University of Calgary
| CFLWestAllStar =
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}}
Michael Lashuk (December 9, 1938 – October 24, 2023) was a Canadian football player and coach. An fullback and linebacker, he played in the Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Eskimos from 1957 to 1963. He was head coach of the University of Calgary Dinosaurs football program for 13 seasons from 1969 to 1976 and 1978 to 1982, leading the team to its first conference championship and their inaugural appearance in the Vanier Cup.
Playing
A native of Edmonton, Lashuk was a star fullback at Victoria Composite High School and played for the Edmonton Huskies of the Alberta Junior Football League in 1956. He entered the professional ranks in 1957 as a linebacker and fullback for the Edmonton Eskimos. He won the Dr. Beattie Martin Trophy for Canadian rookie of the year in the west,[http://www.fanbase.com/Mike-Lashuk FANBASE entry : Mike Lashuk] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120731045635/http://www.fanbase.com/Mike-Lashuk|date=2012-07-31}}
rushing for 164 yards and intercepting 2 passes.1957 CFL record Book He had 3 interceptions in 1958, 5 in 1959 and 4 in 1960. He rushed for 757 yards in 1961 and led the team with 802 rushing yards in 1962. He was the Eskimos' nominee for the Schenley Award in 1962. He only rushed for 70 yards in 1963, but intercepted two passes and punted the ball 41 times with an average of 38.9 yards per punt.{{cite web |title=Mike Lashuk |url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/l/lash00580.html |website=Pro Football Archives |access-date=28 September 2024}} In 1964, Lashuk decided to accept a teach job in Calgary and did report to the Eskimos.{{cite news |title=Briefs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VtZgAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA25&dq |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix |date=December 31, 1964}} He attempted a comeback with Edmonton in 1965, but he retired during training camp.{{cite news |title=Lashuk Abandons Comeback Trail |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-CBlAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA5&dq |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=Edmonton Journal |date=July 5, 1965}}
Coaching
Lashuk earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Alberta in 1960 and his master's degree from Southern Illinois University in 1967. After retiring, he coached at Ross Sheppard High School in Edmonton and Crescent Heights and Henry Wise Wood High Schools in Calgary, winning city championships in 1962 (Ross Sheppard) and 1964 (Crescent Heights). He also spent a season as the head coach of the Edmonton Wildcats and led them to the western junior final. In 1968, he became a lecturer and assistant football coach at the University of Calgary, where he worked under his former Huskies Dennis Kadatz.{{cite news |title=Dinosaurs Add Lashuk To Staff Of Coaches |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8GZkAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA14&dq |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=The Calgary Herald |date=May 4, 1968}} Kadatz retired after the 1969 season to focus on his dutites as athletic director and Lashuk succeeded him as head coach.{{cite news |title=Lashuk To Coach Dinnies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6GZkAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA12&dq |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=The Calgary Herald |date=February 11, 1969}}
Lashuk was head coach of the Dinos from 1969 to 1976 and 1978 to 1982, with a record of 57–49. He led the team to its first conference championship and their inaugural appearance in the Vanier Cup in 1975.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=Dinos mourn Mike Lashuk |url=https://godinos.com/news/2023/10/25/athletics-news-dinos-mourn-mike-lashuk.aspx |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=University of Calgary Athletics |language=en}}
Lashuk died in Montreal on October 24, 2023, at the age of 84.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Martin Rookie}}
{{Calgary Dinos football coach navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lashuk, Mike}}
Category:Calgary Dinos football coaches
Category:Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners
Category:Canadian football people from Edmonton