The lasting impact that Michael F. Mischler ’87, aka “Coach Misch,” has made at Cathedral Prep, and continues to make, is nothing short of extraordinary. He touched countless lives throughout his high school, coaching, and professional careers at Prep, while fostering the school’s unmatched tradition of excellence and tirelessly working to ensure its legacy for future generations.

A lifelong Erie native, Mike was the youngest of three children born to Dr. Forrest and Shirley Mischler. The Mischlers were devoutly faithful people and provided their children with a solid foundation in Roman Catholicism upon which to build their lives. After attending Erie Day School during his middle school years, Mike enrolled at Cathedral Preparatory School.

Mike fully embraced the Prep culture from day one, and his best memories were made in the classroom, extracurricular activities, and athletics. Mike was the president of the Teenage Action Club, Erie’s largest student run philanthropy, and editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. In football, he served as captain for the first District 10 championship team in school history. He was also captain of the track & field team, winning the District 10 championship in discus and qualifying for the Pennsylvania state championship. However, it was the enduring impact of the dedicated faculty and staff as well as the lasting friendships he made with classmates that made Prep so special to him.

After graduating from Prep in 1987, Mike attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he was a member of the football, track & field, and rugby teams. He was also the president of his fraternity, Kappa Sigma, for two years. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management in 1991.

During college, Mike met the love of his life, Mary Walsh, and they were married in August 1993. Mike and Mary were blessed with five children: Melissa ’13VMA, Katie ’14VMA, Michelle ’16VMA, Joseph ’18, and Kelly ’20VMA, who all graduated from Villa Maria Academy or Cathedral Prep. His family has been the primary source of his pride and joy.

Mike began his professional career in sales and management, which gave him the opportunity to travel the country and all over the world, visiting 35 countries. He worked at several local organizations over the past three decades, including Reed Manufacturing, General Electric, Saint Vincent Health System, and Iroquois School District. Yet, it was his 24 years of full-time employment at his alma mater that have been the most meaningful.

Perhaps most well-known for his 26 years of coaching football at Cathedral Prep, including 20 as the head coach, Mike has also filled several vital administrative roles within the school system. He’s been the director of marketing & development, a faculty member, director of special projects, director of facilities, and he was most recently named vice president of operations. Among many other things, he organized Prep’s 75th anniversary celebration, multiple headmaster dinners, and the Casino Erie fundraiser, while coordinating the school’s advancement efforts. He was the owner’s representative for both phases of the construction of the Hagerty Family Events Center, the most recent building renovation project at Cathedral Prep, and the construction of the Salata Technology & Innovation Center.

His lengthy coaching career was saturated with well-deserved accolades and awards, highlighted by five PIAA state championships, three PIAA state runner-up finishes, 17 District 10 titles, two National Coach of the Year honors, six Pennsylvania State Coach of the Year honors, and induction into the Erie Metro PA Sports Hall of Fame. He also sent over 300 of his players on to play collegiately. Although he finished his coaching career as the all-time winningest football coach in Erie County, the City of Erie, and Cathedral Prep histories, his reputation for establishing a positive and faith-filled team environment and developing young student-athletes into responsible, successful young men of integrity and moral character is one of his greatest achievements.

Mike’s devotion to our students and schools embodies everything it means to be a Rambler and a Man of Prep. His loyalty to our mission and staunch belief in the invaluable opportunities provided with a Catholic education have driven him to become an influential leader in our schools, helping to build them into the outstanding institutions they are today. Congratulations, Mike, on your induction into the prestigious President’s Hall of Fame.

Cathedral Preparatory School

President's Hall of Fame

Cathedral Prep

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Villa Maria Academy