Mike Hatch (1982) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Mike Hatch

Induction:
1982
Class:
1974

1968-71
Football
Punt; Returner
’74
The choice of Mike Hatch as the recipient of the prestigious James Horrigan Award as Athlete of the Year was not a difficult decision to make for the UA coaching staff in 1972. No other senior was more deserving than Hatch, who, as a defensive back, helped the Zips gridders compile the best four-year (1968-71) record in the school’s history, 31-8-1. Indeed, Hatch had impressive statistics as a tackler and pass defender during his career. The three-year letterman compiled 131 solo and 90 assisted career tackles, including 65 solo and 52 assists—second in the 1970 squad. In addition, Hatch, who was voted the Harry “Doc” Smith Awards as the most outstanding sophomore, junior and senior, picked off nine enemy aerials during his career. However, it was his performances as a punt returner in 1971 that he remembers the most. In his season’s opener, a 24-0 victory over Butler, Hatch was selected the Outstanding Player of the Game while returning eight punts for 124 yards. One week later, he earned the award again when he returned a punt 74 yards, breaking four tackles, before lateralling the ball to teammate Pat Coughenour, who went the final yard for the game winning TD (14-7) over Western Illinois with only 34 seconds remaining in the contest. As UA’s team captain, Hatch led UA to four more wins and number two ranking in the college division before a bruised kidney sidelined him after the seventh game, including the Touchdown Club Trophy as the Most Outstanding Back and Fred Sefton Award for the Most Outstanding Defensive Performance. His most memorable year was capped off when he became only the second UA player to earn first-team All-American when he was selected to the American Football Coaches Association Team. After a tryout with the Green Bay Packers, Hatch came back to UA to earn his degree in education and now teaches and coaches in the Tallmadge school system.