Mike Whitmarsh

{{Infobox volleyball biography

| name = Mike Whitmarsh

| image =

| caption =

| fullname =

| nickname =

| birth_name = Michael John Whitmarsh

| birth_date = {{birth date|1962|5|18}}

| birth_place = San Diego, California, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|2|17|1962|5|18}}

| death_place = Solana Beach, California, U.S.

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=7}}

| college = University of San Diego

| medaltemplates-expand = yes

| medaltemplates-title = Medal record

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }}

}}

Michael John Whitmarsh{{Cite web |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/whitmmi01.html |website=Basketball-reference.com |title=Mike Whitmarsh |access-date=July 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230125112948/https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/whitmmi01.html |archive-date=January 25, 2023 |url-status=live }} (May 18, 1962 – February 17, 2009) was an American volleyball and basketball player. He won the silver medal in the men's inaugural beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, partnering with Mike Dodd. Throughout his volleyball career, Whitmarsh earned over $1.6 million as well as 28 tournament wins.

Whitmarsh played college basketball for the San Diego Toreros. He was a two-time all-conference player in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC), known now as the West Coast Conference, and led San Diego to their first-ever conference title in 1984. He played professional basketball for three years in Europe before turning to volleyball.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/04/22/athlete-walks-off-court-into-life-of-beach-volleyball/ |last=Lowitt |first=Bruce |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |title=Athlete walks off court, into life of beach volleyball |date=April 22, 1993 |access-date=July 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730054149/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/04/22/athlete-walks-off-court-into-life-of-beach-volleyball/ |archive-date=July 30, 2023 |url-status=live }}

Early life

Whitmarsh was born in San Diego. He played basketball at Monte Vista High in Spring Valley, California, and later Grossmont College in El Cajon. He did not take academics seriously as a freshman at Grossmont. Whitmarsh did not think that he had a chance to get an athletic scholarship until Toreros coach Jim Brovelli showed interest in him. Lacking the units to be admitted into the University of San Diego (USD), Whitmash committed himself to studying.{{cite news|last=Canepa|first=Michael|title=Year later, Whitmarsh looks forward and back|date=December 3, 1984|newspaper=Evening Tribune|page=D-1}}

College career

The {{convert|6|ft|7|in|adj=on}} Whitmarsh played college basketball at USD. He started all 24 games as a junior, averaging 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and earning all-conference honors in the WCAC. As a senior in 1983–84, he averaged 18.8 points and 7.3 rebounds and led the Toreros to an 18–10 record and the 1984 NCAA tournament. In the final game of the regular season against Saint Mary's, he had 24 points and six rebounds in a 68–59 win to clinch the Torreros' first-ever WCAC title. He was named All-WCAC again, and was runner-up to John Stockton in the voting for the WCAC Player of the Year.

Professional career

Whitmarsh was drafted by the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers in the fifth round in 1984.{{Cite web |url=http://www.basketballreference.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1984&lg=N |title=1984 NBA draft |website=Basketballreference.com |access-date=July 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017095256/http://basketballreference.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1984&lg=N |archive-date=October 17, 2007 |url-status=dead }} He also narrowly missed making the roster of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and played professionally in Germany for three years before abandoning basketball in favor of beach volleyball.{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/la-me-mike-whitmarsh19-2009feb19,0,1619006.story |title=Mike Whitmarsh dies at 46; Olympic medalist in beach volleyball |first=Tony |last=Perry |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=February 19, 2009 }} {{subscription required}} Transitioning from the indoor hard court to the soft sand of beach volleyball (which is often played under hot and humid conditions) was not easy, and he developed a reputation for cramping late in tournaments.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/04/09/charming-life-on-the-beach/ |date=April 9, 1996 |title=Charming life on the beach |last=Cotey |first=John C. |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=July 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728103748/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1996/04/09/charming-life-on-the-beach/ |archive-date=July 28, 2023 |url-status=live }}

Whitmarsh quickly adapted to the beach with his powerful blocks at the net and won over the fans. In 1990, he was selected as Rookie of the Year by the AVP. In 2001, he was ranked number 1 in the AVP.{{Cite web |url=http://www.bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=138 |title=Mike Whitmarsh |website=Beach Volleyball Database |access-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518140350/http://www.bvbinfo.com/player.asp?ID=138 |archive-date=May 18, 2023 |url-status=live }} In 2002, he was named the Best Blocker by the AVP. He retired from beach volleyball in 2004.

Death

Whitmarsh was in the midst of a divorce from his wife Cindy and was found dead in a friend's garage on Wednesday, February 17, 2009, leaving behind two young daughters. According to the San Diego County medical examiner, he died of suicide from inhalation of carbon monoxide from automobile exhaust.{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-aug-04-sp-crowe4-story.html |date=August 4, 2009 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |title=Mike Dodd finds success in coaching amid grief over former partner's suicide |access-date=July 30, 2023 }} {{subscription required}}

Awards and honors

AVP Rookie of the Year 1990
AVP King of the Beach 2000
AVP Best Blocker 2002
AVP Lifetime Achievement 2004
AVP Role Model Award 2003
AVP Special Achievement 2003

References

External links

{{Beach Volleyball Database|138}}
{{Olympics.com profile|mike-whitmarsh}}
{{Olympedia}}
[https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mike-whitmarsh-1.html College basketball stats] at Sports-Reference.com
[http://www.legacy.com/LADailyNews/Obituaries.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonID=124341284 Obituary] in the Los Angeles Daily News

Category:1962 births

Category:2009 suicides

Category:2009 deaths

Category:American men's volleyball players

Category:Alba Berlin players

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:American men's beach volleyball players

Category:Beach volleyball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Category:Grossmont College alumni

Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic beach volleyball players for the United States

Category:Olympic medalists in beach volleyball