Beyond teaching the game, Mike Lester helped his athletes grow as people, providing guidance and advice in life both on and off the field.
As the volleyball coach, Lester was a true trailblazer for the program at Saint Mary’s, recognized for his commitment to the team and the lasting influence he had on the school.
Along with Amanda Edmond B’01, Amber (Rajtora) Haschenburger B’01, Shelley (Haake) Mosquera B’01, and Tony Piscitiello B’69, M’82, his contributions will be honored at the upcoming fourth annual Cardinal Excellence Fund Dinner and the induction into the Saint Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame on March 22nd.
“I suppose the honor really means I am getting old! Truly, I think that this honor is a credit to the program we were able to build at Saint Mary’s,” said Lester. “It is a credit to those players, coaches, and administrators who believed in what we were trying to do. Players like Shelly, Amanda, and Amber and coaches like Corey Phelps and Jolene Danca who were there at the beginning helped lay the groundwork for everything we were able to accomplish over 20 years. They helped create a culture of success in the classroom, on the court, and in life that was continued by players and coaches that came after them. The honor is absolutely one that belongs to the players and coaches.
Lester, the Cardinals coach for 18 seasons, guided the Cardinals to four consecutive MIAC postseason appearances in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, reaching the semifinals in three of those four years. Over the course of the tournament’s 16-year history, Saint Mary’s qualified for the MIAC tournament 11 times.
In 2009, he led Saint Mary’s to a 22-10 record, securing a spot in both the MIAC and NCAA Central Regional Tournaments. This marked the Cardinals’ second-ever appearance in the NCAA Regional Tournament.
In 2000, Lester propelled the Cardinals to their first MIAC regular-season championship, a program-record 27 wins, and their inaugural NCAA Division III Regional Tournament appearance. His team’s 10-1 conference record in 2001 earned him MIAC Coach of the Year honors.
“I remember the commitment every player had to putting the team first and finding their role. I remember the All-Americans, the role players, and those who brought pocket snacks for the bench. All of them were what made Saint Mary’s Volleyball what it was during our time.”
Lester capped off his coaching career with an overall record of 357-236, and also served as the assistant athletic director during his time.
The humble man that he is, Lester took a moment to reflect on the significance of this honor and what the accomplishment means to him.
“I thought of the past 27 years and how life has “happened” both the good and the bad, because of that moment in 1998. I thought of my wife (Jodie), our kids (Jaxon and Jadyn) and how that moment in 1998 brought us all together!”
“I do remember my first time driving up Hwy 61 into Winona and making the left hand turn up the hill to campus thinking “What an amazing place. We can do great things here.””
