Mike French

Mike French
— Lacrosse player —
Born (1953-05-13) May 13, 1953
Position Attack/Forward
Former NCAA team Cornell University
Former NLL teams Philadelphia Wings
Coaching career Philadelphia Wings, 1994
Nationality Canadian
Pro career 1987–present
Career highlights
U.S. Lacrosse Hall of Fame
Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, 2001
NLL Hall of Fame, 2007

Michael "Mike" G. French (born May 13, 1953) was a three-time All-American lacrosse player at Cornell University from 1974 to 1976, teaming with fellow lacrosse Hall of Fame members Eamon McEneaney, Dan Mackesey, Bill Marino, Tom Marino, Bob Hendrickson, Chris Kane, and Richie Moran to lead the Cornell Big Red to the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship in 1976. French is also currently the co-owner, along with Russ Cline and Chris Fritz, as well as Executive Vice-President of the NLL's Philadelphia Wings.

Cornell Big Red

French is ranked 9th all-time in NCAA Division I scoring with 296 career points, 3rd in career points-per-game behind fellow Canadian Stan Cockerton, and 5th in career goals. French's top season was 1976 when he scored 65 goals and handed out 40 assists for 105 total points in 16 games, good for 4th all-time in a single season. French and McEneaney led Cornell to one of the great seasons in college lacrosse history in 1976, with an unbeaten record and a 16-13 overtime victory over Frank Urso and the University of Maryland in the NCAA Championship game. This was the first NCAA lacrosse championship to receive national exposure. With the game being decided in overtime and French scoring seven goals, Frank Gifford doing the play-by-play called the finals the most exciting sporting event he had ever seen. During French's career at Cornell, the Big Red went to three straight NCAA tournaments, shutting out Washington and Lee 14-0 in one tournament game, and won 43 games while losing only 4.[1] He was named the USILA player of the year in 1976.

National Lacrosse League

French played for the Eagle Pro Box Lacrosse League Philadelphia Wings in 1987, leading the league in goals during its inaugural season. He was named the team's general manager in 1988, guiding the Wings to a 33-17 regular season mark and a 7-2 record in the postseason, with three championships over seven seasons. French also coached the Wings for one season in 1994, guiding them to a 6 and 2 record as well as the MILL title. He had been with the Wings since their inception in 1987 and joined the team's ownership group prior to the start of the 1998 season.

French is currently part of the ownership group of the New England Black Wolves which took over the retired Wings franchise.

Canadian Lacrosse

Mike began playing box lacrosse in Niagara-on-the-Lake and St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, and did not play field lacrosse until his freshman season at Cornell. French captained the Canadian National Team to the 1978 World Lacrosse Championships upset over a heavily favored U.S. National Team. The World championships have been dominated by the American team every year except 1978 and 1998. In the 1978 title game, the Canadian team rebounded from a 28-4 loss to the Americans in an early round game to beat them 17-16 in overtime for the World title.[2]

Post playing career

French was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1991,[3] the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2001,[4] and the NLL Hall of Fame in 2007.[5] French is currently the only member of both the Canadian and US Lacrosse Halls of Fame.

Additionally, French is currently one of three Partners for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Hospitality & Leisure Advisory practice. French was also a member of the Sphinx Head society while at Cornell.

French is also an investor in Baggataway Tavern, located in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

Statistics

Cornell University

     
Season GP G A Pts PPG
1976166540105[a]6.56
1975176334975.71
1974146331946.71
Totals47191[b]105296[c]6.30[d]
[a] 9th in NCAA single season points
[b] 5th in career goals
[c] 10th in career points
[d] 3rd in career points-per-game

Philadelphia Wings

     
Season GP G A Pts GB
1987 6 14 9 23 ---

OLA/WLA/MSL statistics

    Regular Season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1970Niagara WarriorsOLA Jr B24704011029111713307
1971Niagara WarriorsOLA Jr B249867165[a]241647348120
1972Niagara WarriorsOLA Jr B3011287199[b]70468147
1973Niagara WarriorsOLA Jr B245972131--13294271--
1974Niagara WarriorsOLA Jr B10323365--9161935--
1975Brantford WarriorsMSL1026174324----------
1976Owen Sound CrescentsMSL14433578461418322
1976Brampton ExcelsiorsMSL----------79132210
1977Owen Sound CrescentsMSL8162541111521375812
1977Brampton ExcelsiorsMSL----------6511162
PRO/MAJOR/SENIOR TOTALS324563768323934497912826
[a] Top Scorer In O.L.A. Junior B Western Division - 1971, 1972
[b] Second All-Time in Career O.L.A. Junior B Regular Season Points

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lacrosse: Technique and Tradition. By Bob Scott. Published by JHU Press, 2006. pg. 19. ISBN 0-8018-8371-7.
  2. ↑ "Lacrosse: a History of the Game by Peter Bailey Lund". eLacrosse.com.
  3. ↑ "Michael G. French HoF Page". US Lacrosse - National Hall of Fame web site.
  4. ↑ "Mike French Induction Page". Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame web site. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
  5. ↑ "NLL Inducts Second Class to Hall of Fame". NLL.com. February 16, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-18.

Awards

Preceded by
Frank Urso		 Lt. Raymond Enners Award
1976 		Succeeded by
Eamon McEneaney
Preceded by
Eamon McEneaney		 Jack Turnbull Award
1976 		Succeeded by
Mike O'Neill


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