Michael Mink

Michael Mink

Personal information
Date of birth	(1965-12-08) December 8, 1965
Place of birth	Tampa, FL
Career information
Position(s)	Head coach Owner Commissioner
College	University of Alabama Birmingham
Head coaching record
Regular season	58–29 (.667)
Postseason	3–4 (.429)
Career record	61-33 (.649)

Michael Anthony Mink (born December 8, 1965) is the Founder, Owner, and Head Coach of the Florida Marine Raiders (formally Lakeland Raiders) of Lakeland, Florida. He is also the Co-Founder and Commissioner of the X-League.

Early Life and Education

Mike was born and raised in Tampa, FL where he attended Robinson High. At Thomas Richard Robinson High School he played under Dave Best and won the 1982 Saladino Baseball Tournament. In his Junior season he hit .404 which was good enough for 7th in the conference. He played against Dwight "Doc" Gooden and had a 3-6 record against Gooden. At Robinson Mike was a 3-year Varsity Linebacker and baseball player. In his final high school football game against Plant High School he racked up 18 tackles and was awarded the NBC Sports Player of the Game. He would start his collegiate career at Hillsborough Community College under Kenny Dominguez. In Mike's sophomore season he hit .353 while earning All-Suncoast honors and a Gold Glove. Mink then went on to attend University of Alabama at Birmingham for his Junior and Senior seasons on scholarship. He was recruited by Harry "Hat" Walker, but finished his college career with Pete Rancont. There he hit .365 under Harry "Hat" Walker and won a Gold Glove as an outfielder in 1986. In his senior year he was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week. He would graduate with a Pre-Law degree from UAB in 1988.

Playing career

Michael started his professional career at the Pittsburgh Pirates free-agent baseball camp in Bradenton, FL. He then would go on to play with the Santa Maria Indians and hit .313, but he decided to return home after he tore his rotator cuff. In 1989-90 Mike would play for the Tampa Smokers in the National Baseball Conference. Mike would try once more to continue his professional baseball career with the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, FL. He was selected by team, but his rotator cuff caused him to fail the physical, ending his baseball career.

In 1992 Michael started his professional fast-pitch softball career with the legendary 10-time champion Clearwater Bombers and finished 4th in the World. In 1993 Mike founded the 2 time world champion and national champion Tampa Bay Smokers. Mike was named to the 1997 ASA All-American Team. With the Decatur Pride he was a part of the 1998 National Champion team. Next he moved to the New York Spirit for the 1999 and 2000 season before retiring in 2001. Michael Mink would later be named to the Minor League Hall of Fame in 2008.

Business career

Early Business

In Mike's business career he has been a Investigator for the U.S. Treasury, a Credit Manager for Superior Surgical, and Vice President for MRG/USA Laser. His success led him to start and build his own companies that have reached $4 million in sales annually.

Mink Enterprises

Mink Enterprises is the holding company for City Tail Marketing, Florida Marine Raiders and X-League Indoor Football.

City Tail Marketing(2011)

City Tail is a Marketing Consulting company that specializes in social marketing, e-marketing, and commercial printing. They also customize apparel and promotional items for businesses.

Coaching/Ownership

Gulf Coast Raiders

Following the tragic death of his mother, Mike Mink started his first Football Team in her honor, the Gulf Coast Raiders. This was a Semi-Pro team that joined the Southern States Football League in 2006 and was based in Clearwater, FL. Unlike many other teams in this league, Mink did not charge players to play on the football for his team. In their first Season the team went 9-1, good enough for 1st Place in their division. Following that season they would play 3 games in the AIFL, before becoming a part of the Montgomery Bears.

AIFA

John Morris and Michael Mink formed the American Indoor Football Association in October 6, 2006. Mink created the league rule book and operations manual. He then leave the league in November 2010.

Montgomery Bears

Formally known as the Montgomery Maulers of the NIFL, Mink bought the team after the previous owner's issues with the team in May 2006. Mike would only coach the team for the remainder of the 2006 season, but would remain the co-owner for the 2007 season. The team turned it around towards the end of the season, but went on to lose to Lakeland in the Playoffs. Following the season the team moved to the AIFA and the name was changes to the Montgomery Bears. After failing to make the playoffs in 2007 the team folded citing attendance issues.

Carolina Speed

Michael would co-found, co-own and coach the Carolina Speed in 2007. The team would go 10-6, but eventually fall to Lakeland in the first round of the playoffs.

Utah Saints

In 2008 Mink would take over the coaching responsibilities for the Utah Saints. Even though they ended with a 1-13 record they began to turn around towards the end of the season. It was with the Saints that he coached the best prospect he has ever coached, Aaron Lesué.

Ogden Knights

In 2009, Mike coached the Ogden Knights to a 6-7 record. This would be good enough for 3rd in the West Division.

Yakama Valley Warriors

In 2010 Mike Mink would own an indoor football team again, but this time in Yakima, Washington. The team would play in the AIFA at the Yakima SunDome. In their first year the team went 7-7, but their second season would be suspended due to the amount of teams in the league not able to suffice a season. The team would be put up for sale in 2011, but later fold as the AIFA would go on to merge with the Southern Indoor Football League now known as American Indoor Football.

Brazil Football

Manaus Cavaliers

In partnership with the American Football Mission Team, Mike went to Brazil to spread the game of football overseas. He became the head coach of the Manaus Cavaliers and lead them to an 11-0 record winning the Amazonas State Championship. Mink has agreed to remain with the team as an advisor.

X-League

Mike co-founded the X-League with Kacee Smith in September 2013. He has assumed the role of League Commissioner. Currently there are 5 teams in the league and the inaugural season is set to kickoff March 3, 2014.

Florida Marine Raiders

Mink would move back home to Florida to start a team in Lakeland, Florida. The Lakeland Raiders would join the UIFL for the 2012 and 2013 Seasons reaching the Semifinals two consecutive years. In the 2014 season the Raiders will play in the X-League and have changed their name to the Florida Marine Raiders. The Marine Raiders are currently contracted with the Lakeland Center through the 2016 season and look forward to facilitating the growth of young players as they venture to play football on a higher level.

Record

Personal life

Today Mike resides in Palm Harbor, FL with his two daughters Arista and Sierra. He focuses on giving back to the community and giving young athletes second chances to achieve their professional dreams. He has moved up over 80 young athletes to higher leagues. Mink formed two youth football leagues Raiders4Kids and AIFAKids in order to develop young kid’s skills, while providing them with the life lessons football and other team sports cultivate. He is an advocate Against Domestic Violence and has been named a Community Hero for all he has done to help women and children harmed by domestic violence. Mike Mink is driven professionally and philanthropically by the tragic events of his Mother's death. Most recently he has traveled to Brazil to coach the Manaus Cavaliers and spread the game of football globally in partnership with the American Football Mission Team.

Sources

http://www.saladinobaseballtournament.com/history.htm
http://www.theledger.com/article/20120205/news/120209589
http://www.marineraiders.com/
http://www.chsfl.org/ChampionMichaelMink
http://www.kndo.com/story/15352896/yakima-valley-warriors-up-for-sale
http://americanfootballassn.blogspot.com/2005/11/gulf-coast-raiders-join-southern.html
http://aifprofootball.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=1064&Itemid=231
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-27795318.html
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071002/SPORTS/710020331/1002&nclick_check=1
http://www.marineraiders.com/raiders-4-kids/
http://www.lbfa.com.br/