Mike Meeks, who graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1988, is serving as the executive director of Athletics for the Lubbock Independent School District (LISD).
He started as the assistant athletic director of facilities and operation and middle school sports in 2013, before being promoted to executive director in September 2016.
Mike works with the principal and athletic coordinator in the selection and placement of athletic staff members, addresses University Interscholastic League (UIL) guidelines, manages compliance with the UIL and oversees the LISD Athletics budget.
"I enjoy serving our coaches and kids through an administrative role," said Mike, who has held a variety of coaching positions.
He was a defensive back coach and assistant track coach at El Paso Socorro from 1989-94, a defensive coordinator at Fort Stockton High School in 1994, a defensive back coach, defensive coordinator and head track coach at Midland Lee High School from 1995-2005. His most recent coaching positions were as a defensive coordinator and head track coach at Coronado High School from 2006-2013.
He helped Midland Lee High School win three UIL 5A Football State Championships in a row from 1998-2000.
When asked about his ultimate career goals, Mike explained that he "originally wanted to be a head football coach. My path basically chose me and I have loved every minute of it."
Mike had the opportunity to hire Jim Garfield, a fellow Greyhound, as one of his assistant athletic directors.
"We have stayed connected throughout the years," explained Mike. "Jim and I played football together, coached together as graduate assistants and as high school coaches early in our careers."
Mike played football at ENMU due to a $500 scholarship he was offered in the spring semester of his senior year of high school.
"After spending two weeks in fall football camp Bill Kelly, ENMU's head football coach, called me out in the middle of third practice of the day to come see him. It was at the time he advised to me go to the registration building the next day and re-do my scholarship paperwork, because he was putting me on full scholarship."
He had 14 career interceptions and was named the "1986 Academic All Lone Star Conference Defensive Back," "1986 First Team All Lone Star Conference Defensive Back" and "1985 Second Tam All Lone Star Conference Defensive Back."
"I had a great experience at Eastern….I wouldn't change a thing. I spent 6 years in Portales. Many of best friends today are people I met at ENMU," said Mike, who participated in intramurals.
He chose education, his field of study, because he had "every intention of becoming a teacher/coach since I was a kid. My dad was a high school football coach and I had every intention of doing the same thing.
"After two years of playing football for Eastern, Bill Kelly had the intention to transfer to West Texas A&M. I choose not to attend the first team meeting after the hiring of Don Carthel, who I had a previous relationship with in high school as a college recruiter from the University of Texas at El Paso.
"The new Defensive Coordinator Mike Lucas, current Defensive Coordinator/LB coach for the University of Louisiana, came to my dorm room to advise, 'The head coach wants to see you.' I went to see Coach Carthel out of respect due to our previous relationship.
"It was in this meeting that he said the he would let me coach for him upon my completion of my undergraduate degree. That's all I needed. I knew I was going to be a coach and the rest is history."
His advice to students interested in teaching and coaching is to "choose a teaching field that is in high demand."
Mike, whose hobbies include golf, fishing and cooking, was born in Lubbock and raised as a "coach's kid" in El Paso until he 12. His family moved to Sweetwater and then to Lubbock when he was in 8th grade. He graduated from Coronado High School in 1983.
"I am influenced by my father. My father has taught me to think differently and build strong relationships."
Mike's wife is an English language arts reading instructional coach for LISD who just completed 30 years of service in education. He has a 26-year-old son who works as a pipeline controller for Plains All American Pipe Line in Midland, Texas. His 21-year-old daughter attends Texas State as a junior majoring in public relations.
