Salem University Athletics

Born July 4, 1958 and a Salem College graduate of 1980, Mike Carey displayed outstanding athletic abilities that earned him honors as both an athlete and a coach.

As a player, Carey was the leading scorer in the state of West Virginia his senior year at Liberty High School in Clarksburg, West Virginia before arriving on the campus of Salem College. He went on to score more than 2,000 points and ranks near to top of the list of Salem’s career scoring leaders and career free throw percentage leaders. He was the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s (WVIAC) leading scorer in 1978, a member of the 1979 WVIAC All-Tournament team and the 1977 WVIAC Freshman of the Year.

His coaching career began as an assistant coach in 1981 and became the head men’s basketball coach in 1988. The Tigers posted an 8-19 mark in the season prior to his Carey taking the reins of the program and would suffer just one losing campaign during his entire regime.

In 13 seasons, Carey's Salem teams made seven postseason appearances (two NAIA and five NCAA Division II) and won five WVIAC championships (1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999).

Three times the WVIAC tournament champion, the Tigers were twice participants in the Division II Elite Eight, ranked No. 1 in the country during two seasons and played in the Division II Final Four in 1997. A four-time WVIAC Coach of the Year (1994, 1997-99), Carey twice was named NCAA Division II East Region coach of the year (1997, 1999).

In 2000, his final season as Salem's Head Coach, Carey’s Tigers were 26-7 ranked as high as No. 4 nationally and advanced to the NCAA East Region finals. Carey's career record at Salem was 288-102; his record during the last five years of his tenure was 138-20.

He contributed significantly to the improvement of the athletic programs at the institution through his position as athletic director from 1989-2000.

He demanded high academic and athletic standards from all of his players, and through his strong leadership abilities and coaching practices, the university produced top of the line graduates under his watch.

In 2001 he became the head women’s basketball coach at West Virginia University, where he has become the program’s all-time leader in wins and established the highest national rankings in Mountaineer Women’s Basketball history.