Mike Zaklan

Coach: Basketball – Golf – Football - Baseball

In the current era where long coaching tenures at one school seem almost extinct, it is
refreshing and comforting to see someone who has spent the last 44 years coaching
young athletes at the same school. Such is the case with Mike Zaklan.

Mike was born and raised in Sandpoint, Idaho. He attended all the local schools
including Sandpoint High School. While at Sandpoint High, Mike played football,
basketball and baseball. However, it was his accomplishments on the basketball court
that earned him an athletic scholarship to Idaho State University. While majoring in
physical education and minoring in speech, Mike played guard on the Bengal basketball
team all four years. In 1964, he earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree and began his
teaching career in Blackfoot, Idaho. In 1966, Mike moved to Stockton and took a
teaching job as a 7 th and 8 th grade teacher at Linden Elementary School.

That same year, Mike also began his coaching career at Linden High as the J.V.
basketball coach, a position he would hold for the next ten years. Also during that time,
Mike coached J.V. baseball. In 1976, Mike moved to a teaching position at Linden High
and also took over the Varsity basketball program from long time coach Ray Butler.
Thus began one of the most successful periods in Boy’s Basketball in the schools
history. From 1982 through 1986, the Lions won the MLL league championship 4 out of
5 years including three straight in 1982, 1983 & 1984. During that time, the 1981-1982
team was the most successful, posting a 29-3 record, winning the league championship
and placing 3 rd at the CIF Section Tournament. In 1984, Mike was selected Stockton
Record Coach of the Year. He remained head basketball coach of the Lions until he
decided to step down following the 1994 season. During those 18 years, Mike’s overall
coaching record was 262-210 including 4 league championships, 12 CIF playoff berths,
and 4 CIF Final Four appearances.

Also beginning in 1976, Mike joined Mark Miller as an assistant football coach and held
that position until 1994. During that time, Mike was an integral part of helping the Lions
football team to 8 MLL league championships. In 1991, Mike took his love for the sport
of golf and became the head coach for both the boy’s and girl’s golf teams, positions he
still holds today. In 2004, Mike retired from teaching full time, but still finds time to coach
golf and substitute teach as needed.

Mike and his wife Diana have been married for 48 years and have three children, Mike,
Mark and Mindi, 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. The Linden Athletic Hall of
Fame is proud and honored to induct Mike Zaklan into its Athletic Hall of Fame for his
outstanding coaching career at Linden High School.