MIKE BAYKAL: 1991-1999

 A native of the country of Turkey, Mike came to Seaside with a solid playing background and as a high school official in San Diego.  At the time he started, Mike was also coaching the University High School Varsity Boys team to two consecutive CIF titles in 1991 and ’92.  

The most successful Seaside coach of all time in terms of championships, Mike led the ’92 Seaside 18 Black team to a National Championship at JO’s; and returned to coach the ’97 Seaside 18 Black team to another National Championship at Denver, Colorado.  In between this miraculous double, Mike coached the Seaside 18 Black team in ’95 to a 4th place finish at the Nationals.  Great players; great coaching.

Mike continued to coach with Seaside until the end of the 1999 season.  In ’98, he coached the 18-1 team to a 5th place finish in Dallas, Texas.  In ’99, his 18-1 team finished 3rd at the SoCal Classic and 12th at the JO’s in New Orleans.  In addition, Mike coached the varsity boys to a CIF Championship at San Dieguito High School in ’97, and, then, in ’98, garnered another CIF Championship with La Costa Canyon High School.  

 In 2000, Mike joined the very successful Long Beach Club coaching the 15 and 16 year old boys until 2004.  Mike also assisted Coach Featherstone with the Grossmont College Men’s team of ’94 that finished 3rd at the State Championships.

     Coach Featherstone on Mike Baykal : “ Great coach at getting the top players to play their best, all the time. . . Extremely demanding; very focused. . . Like myself, had a fiery temperament but was always under control and did a solid job managing matches. . .Unintimidated by other top name coaches and clubs, Mike convinced the players they would win and did an outstanding job as a tactical coach in big matches. . .I hated to see him leave, but his full time architect job moved him out of San Diego and he needed to relocate.. . .Mike, Mark, and I achieved uncommon success with the Seaside club early on. . .fortunately, it set the stage for many great years thereafter. . .we were blessed with the best talent San Diego had to offer, but I am indebted to these two guys, particularly, for their commitment and our shared vision. . . Bottom-line :  We got it done !  Two Golds (’92, ’97); One Silver (’90); a 4th place (’95); a 7th place (’93), and a 12th place (’94). . all with the Seaside 18 Black team, in the first seven years ! . . Our goal every year : Get the top players, coach ‘em up, and get them to peak when they were seniors. . . And, boy were there some grand players . . .guys like Eric Sullivan, Ala Mikaele, Aaron Hartin, Brian Cremascoli, Bruce Williams, Robert Treahy, Matt Suttie, Mike and Scott Downey, Scott Eide, Richard Lambourne, Reid Priddy, Mat Osburn, Tim Jensen, Josh Lukens, Matt Noonan, Eli Fairfield, Matt Olson, Matt Prosser, Jason Garrow, Joe Gallina, Evan Thatcher, John Engstrom, Matt Davis, Lance Laxson, Bjorn Dahl, Matt Showley, Brandon Vegter, Scott Eide, Conor Frickman, Danny Hughes, and Jeff Bender. . Incredible players. . .incredible years !”