Doug Michelson coached for 35 years.
Michelson, who graduated from James Monroe High School in 1960, Cal-State Northridge in 1965 (BA/Physical Education), Pepperdine University in 1983 (MA in Counseling and Guidance) coached at both the high school and community college level.
At Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley, Michelson followed the legendary Nelson Burton (who coached NBA all-star Gail Goodrich and won the City Championship in 1961) starting in 1968 and continued the excellence of the program. His teams at Poly won six league championships and advanced to the Los Angeles 3A Championship game at Pauley Pavilion in 1977. Michelson was selected Los Angeles Times San Fernando Valley Coach of the Year. Over the 11-year span Michelson won 79 percent of his games at Poly.
Michelson broke into the community college coaching ranks with a two-year gig at Los Angeles Pierce College, but ultimately returned to the high school level when he took the Hart High School job in Newhall. He spent five years at the high school, reaching the CIF playoffs four times and winning the Foothill League with a 10-0 record and 19-4 overall in in 1984.
In 1991, he returned to community college coaching, this time as the women’s head coach at Los Angeles Valley College. His winning ways continued as he won six conference championships, advanced to two state championship game appearances and reached the semifinals two other years. Michelson was selected conference coach of the year four times, California Coaches Association Community College Coach of the Year in 1992 and inducted into the California Community College Athletic Association Women's Hall of Fame in 2005. Michelson's overall record was 184-29 and an average of 30 wins per year.
After the retirement of Jim Stephens, he moved to the men’s side. For Michelson it was like coming home. He was a two-time letterman at Los Angeles Valley (1961 and 1962). And like his previous success, Michelson built the Monarchs into a premier program. His program finished either first or second in the Western State Conference-South nine consecutive years winning four conference titles. When he was done, his teams averaged 26 wins a season and had advanced to the state semifinals once. He was a four-time conference coach of the year. Over 40 student-athletes transferred to the four-year level under his tutelage and his “mandatory study hall.”
In addition to being inducted into the California Community Colleges Men Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame, Michelson will be honored by Los Angeles Valley College in June when he is enshrined in the college’s Hall of Fame.
Michelson retired in 2003 and resides in San Diego with his wife, Katie. He and his wife had two sons, both standout athletes themselves.