# Mike Slusher

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{{short description|American basketball player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Mike Slusher
| image = 
| caption = 
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6<!--per https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/miamiredhawks.com/documents/2018/7/19/_70_71.pdf -->
| weight_lb = 210<!--per https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/miamiredhawks.com/documents/2018/7/19/_70_71.pdf -->
| birth_date = {{circa|1948}}<!--Noted as being 54 years old in December 2002-->
| birth_place = 
| death_date = March 2026 (aged 77–78)
| death_place = 
| nationality = American
| highschool = [Talawanda](/source/Talawanda_High_School) ([Oxford, Ohio](/source/Oxford%2C_Ohio))
| college = [Miami (OH)](/source/Miami_RedHawks_men's_basketball) (1967–1972)
| career_start = 1980
| career_end = 1989
| career_position = [Center](/source/Center_(basketball)) / [forward](/source/Forward_(basketball))
| coach_start = 1988
| coach_end = 1990
| years1 = 1980–1985
| team1 = [St. Kilda Saints](/source/Southern_Melbourne_Saints)
| years2 = 1986
| team2 = [Nunawading Spectres](/source/Nunawading_Spectres)
| years3 = 1989
| team3 = [Knox Raiders](/source/Knox_Raiders)
| cyears1 = 1988–1990
| cteam1 = [Knox Raiders](/source/Knox_Raiders)
| highlights = 
* [NBL champion](/source/List_of_NBL_champions) ([1980](/source/1980_NBL_season))
}}
'''Mike Slusher''' ({{circa|1948}}<ref name=morningjournal>{{cite news |last1=Zoellner |first1=Bob |title=From Down Under to the states, students do more than play ball |url=https://www.morningjournal.com/2002/12/02/from-down-under-to-the-states-students-do-more-than-play-ball/ |access-date=21 March 2026 |work=[The Morning Journal](/source/The_Morning_Journal) |date=2 December 2002 |quote=Slusher, 54, ended up liking it enough to settle there, and played professional basketball for nine years, until he was 40-years-old.}}</ref> – March 2026) was an American [basketball](/source/basketball) player and coach. He played [college basketball](/source/college_basketball) for the [Miami RedHawks](/source/Miami_RedHawks_men's_basketball) before playing seven seasons in the Australian [National Basketball League](/source/National_Basketball_League_(Australia)) (NBL) between 1980 and 1986. In 1980, he won an [NBL championship](/source/List_of_NBL_champions) with the [St. Kilda Saints](/source/Southern_Melbourne_Saints). Following his NBL career, he had a stint as head coach for the [Knox Raiders](/source/Knox_Raiders) of the [South East Australian Basketball League](/source/South_East_Australian_Basketball_League) (SEABL) between 1988 and 1990.

An educator by profession, Slusher worked as a teacher<ref name=nunawadingbasketball>{{cite news |title=Vale Mike Slusher |url=https://www.nunawadingbasketball.com.au/vale-mike-slusher/ |access-date=21 March 2026 |work=Nunawading Basketball |date=17 March 2026 |language=en-AU}}</ref> and basketball coach in Australia for 50 years.<ref name=bvic>{{cite news |title=Vale Mike Slusher |url=https://www.basketballvictoria.com.au/news/vale-mike-slusher |access-date=21 March 2026 |work=Basketball Victoria |date=18 March 2026 |language=en-AU}}</ref>

==Early life==
Slusher grew up in [Oxford, Ohio](/source/Oxford%2C_Ohio),<ref name="morningjournal" /> where he attended [Talawanda High School](/source/Talawanda_High_School).<ref>{{cite web |title=1969-70 MIAMI VARSITY ROSTER |url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/miamiredhawks.com/documents/2018/7/19/_68_69.pdf |website=[Miami RedHawks](/source/Miami_RedHawks) |access-date=21 March 2026}}</ref><ref name=7071stats>{{cite web |title=1970-71 STATISTICS |url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/miamiredhawks.com/documents/2018/7/19/_70_71.pdf |website=[Miami RedHawks](/source/Miami_RedHawks) |access-date=21 March 2026}}</ref>

==Playing career==
===College===
Slusher played Division 1 [college basketball](/source/college_basketball) for the [Miami RedHawks](/source/Miami_RedHawks_men's_basketball) in [Oxford, Ohio](/source/Oxford%2C_Ohio).<ref name=dba>{{cite news |title=Vale Mike Slusher |url=https://dba.net.au/13918-2/ |access-date=21 March 2026 |work=Dandenong Basketball Association |date=17 March 2026 |language=en-AU}}</ref> In 1967–68, he averaged 15.8 points per game.<ref name=BGSU>{{cite web |title=BGSU Basketball Media Guide 1968-1969 |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/BGSU_Basketball_Media_Guide_1968-1969.pdf |website=Wikimedia |publisher=[Bowling Green State University](/source/Bowling_Green_State_University) |access-date=21 March 2026 |pages=17}}</ref> He was considered a leading prospect as a sophomore in 1968–69.<ref name="BGSU" /> In 1970–71, he averaged 1.0 points and 1.1 rebounds in 10 games.<ref name="7071stats" /><ref name=sports-reference>{{cite web |title=Mike Slusher College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/mike-slusher-1.html |website=College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=21 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref> In 1971–72, he averaged 0.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in seven games.<ref name="sports-reference" /><ref>{{cite web |title=1971-72 STATISTICS |url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/miamiredhawks.com/documents/2018/7/19/_71_72.pdf |website=[Miami RedHawks](/source/Miami_RedHawks) |access-date=21 March 2026}}</ref> He was a [letterwinner](/source/Letterman_(sports)) for the RedHawks in 1971–72.<ref>{{cite web |title=2019-20 MBK Record Book |url=https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/miamiredhawks.com/documents/2019/10/11/2019_20_MBK_Record_Book.pdf |website=[Miami RedHawks](/source/Miami_RedHawks) |access-date=21 March 2026 |pages=53 (55)}}</ref>

===Australia===
In June 1978, Slusher played for Diamond Valley Toshiba, a team of [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne)-based Americans, in an exhibition game against the [Santa Clara Broncos](/source/Santa_Clara_Broncos_men's_basketball) at [Greensborough](/source/Greensborough%2C_Victoria). He scored a team-high 25 points in a 128–75 loss.<ref>{{cite news|title=Win with 'ridiculous ease'|date=28 June 1978|newspaper=[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)|page=34|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131861424|access-date=21 March 2026|via=[Trove](/source/Trove)}}</ref>

Slusher debuted in the Australian [National Basketball League](/source/National_Basketball_League_(Australia)) (NBL) in the [1980 season](/source/1980_NBL_season) for the [St. Kilda Saints](/source/Southern_Melbourne_Saints).<ref name=nbl80>{{cite web |title=Mike Slusher - Player Statistics NBL 1980 |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194197004&client=0-8739-124005-199548-16568335 |website=GameDay |access-date=21 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref> He filled one of two import spots for St. Kilda alongside [Rocky Smith](/source/Rocky_Smith).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nagy |first1=Boti |title=NBL postpones free agency period as it wrestles with possible three-import restriction and contract restructures |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/nbl-postpones-free-agency-period-as-it-wrestles-with-possible-threeimport-restriction-and-contract-restructures/news-story/a22276d7654b14b4d635ddc8574c5206 |access-date=21 March 2026 |work=adelaidenow.com.au |date=10 March 2016 |quote=By 1980, St Kilda went to two imports — Rocky Smith and Mike Slusher — the league soon legislating for that restriction.}}</ref> He scored 18 points in the 1980 grand final against the [West Adelaide Bearcats](/source/West_Adelaide_Bearcats). In nine games, he averaged 12.3 points per game.<ref name="nbl80" /> He continued with the Saints every year between [1981](/source/1981_NBL_season) and [1985](/source/1985_NBL_season), playing 130 games over six seasons.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Slusher - Player Statistics NBL 1981 |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194197004&client=0-8739-124005-199567-16568335 |website=GameDay |access-date=21 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Slusher - Player Statistics NBL 1982 |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194197004&client=0-8739-124005-199573-16568335 |website=GameDay |access-date=21 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Slusher - Player Statistics NBL 1983 |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194197004&client=0-8739-124005-199576-16568335 |website=GameDay |access-date=21 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Slusher - Player Statistics NBL 1984 |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194197004&client=0-8739-124005-199566-16568335 |website=GameDay |access-date=21 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Slusher - Player Statistics NBL 1985 |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194197004&client=0-8739-124005-199545-16568335 |website=GameDay |access-date=21 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref> In the [1983 season](/source/1983_NBL_season), he led the league with a 64.8% (96/148) [field goal percentage](/source/field_goal_percentage).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nbl.gearbox.performgroup.com/nbl-all-time-leaders|title=All Time Leaders|work=NBL.com.au|access-date=25 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923062541/http://nbl.gearbox.performgroup.com/nbl-all-time-leaders|archive-date=23 September 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1985, he wore jersey number 5 for St. Kilda and was listed as a {{convert|200|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} [center](/source/Center_(basketball))/[forward](/source/Forward_(basketball)).<ref>{{cite news |title=Boti Nagy {{!}} FLASHBACK 23: The Cannon, April 13, 1985 |url=https://www.botinagy.com/blog/flashback-23-the-cannon-april-13-1985/ |access-date=21 March 2026 |work=www.botinagy.com |date=30 November 2013}}</ref>

Prior to the [1986 NBL season](/source/1986_NBL_season), Slusher parted ways with the Saints<ref>{{cite news|first=Gary|last=Scholes|title=New players to meet Cannons; Slusher leaves gap in Saints|date=4 April 1986|newspaper=[The Canberra Times](/source/The_Canberra_Times)|page=20|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118195448/13026027|access-date=21 March 2026|via=[Trove](/source/Trove)|quote=Slusher, 37, has played more than 100 games for St Kilda but he has parted company with the club and has applied to another National Basketball League club, Nunawading.}}</ref> and joined the [Nunawading Spectres](/source/Nunawading_Spectres), where in his lone season he averaged 7.5 points in 26 games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mike Slusher - Player Statistics NBL 1986 |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194197004&client=0-8739-124423-199572-16568784 |website=GameDay |access-date=21 March 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

Following his NBL career, Slusher spent time as both a player and head coach of the [Knox Raiders](/source/Knox_Raiders) of the [South East Australian Basketball League](/source/South_East_Australian_Basketball_League) (SEABL).<ref>{{cite news |title=Vale Mike Slusher |url=https://www.facebook.com/KnoxBasketballInc/posts/pfbid02q3aWncRJ1vtF2U64DpLGyrEq9u35TsS9Yx61FFAwDw7cEr54VYDBpUKRFJZm4NmDl |access-date=25 March 2026 |work=facebook.com/KnoxBasketballInc |date=17 March 2026}}</ref> In his three seasons as head coach between 1988 and 1990, the Raiders failed to make the playoffs.<ref name=seabl10>{{cite web |title=Knox Raiders Men – Media Guide 2010 |url=http://www.seabl.com.au/uploads/media/10mknox_01.pdf |website=SEABL.com.au |access-date=25 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216060757/http://www.seabl.com.au/uploads/media/10mknox_01.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2011 |url-status=dead |page=5–6}}</ref><ref name=seabl14>{{cite web |title=Knox Raiders – Media Guide 2014 |url=http://www.seabl.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Media_Guide_2014/MG2014_-_Knox_Raiders.pdf |website=SEABL.com.au |access-date=25 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310083523/http://www.seabl.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Media_Guide_2014/MG2014_-_Knox_Raiders.pdf |archive-date=10 March 2015 |url-status=dead |page=4}}</ref> As a player in 1989, he twice had 11 offensive rebounds in a single game.<ref name="seabl10" /> As of 2014, he was in the top ten in five statistical categories in Knox SEABL history.<ref>{{cite web |title=Media Guide 2014 – Men all time leaders – Knox |url=http://www.seabl.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Media_Guide_2014/men_alltime_leaders_-_knox.pdf |website=SEABL.com.au |access-date=25 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310083530/http://www.seabl.com.au/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Media_Guide_2014/men_alltime_leaders_-_knox.pdf |archive-date=10 March 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Legacy==
Slusher enjoyed a long and respected coaching career across the SEABL and [Big V](/source/Big_V), and as well as in Basketball Victoria High Performance programs.<ref name="nunawadingbasketball" /> He also served as assistant coach at the [Brisbane Bullets](/source/Brisbane_Bullets) in the NBL.<ref name="bvic" />

At the Basketball Victoria 2025 annual awards, Slusher was recognised with a 50 years' service award.<ref name="bvic" />

==Teaching==
Slusher was an English teacher and the boy's junior varsity coach at [Sandusky High School](/source/Sandusky_High_School) in [Sandusky, Ohio](/source/Sandusky%2C_Ohio), from 1974 to 1976. In 1976, he moved to Australia for a 15-month teaching assignment but ultimately never returned and settled down in Australia.<ref name="morningjournal" />

As of 2002, Slusher was teaching professional writing and editing at a [TAFE](/source/Technical_and_further_education) in Australia.<ref name="morningjournal" />

==Personal life and death==
Slusher married an Australian woman in 1984.<ref name="morningjournal" /> He and his wife, Jenny, had two daughters, Cathryn and Menallie.<ref name="dba" /> Jenny Slusher served as head coach of the Knox Raiders women's team in the 1990 SEABL season.<ref name="seabl14" />

Slusher died in March 2026.<ref name="nunawadingbasketball" /><ref name="bvic" /><ref name="dba" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://websites.mygameday.app/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=194197004&client=0-8739-124423-199572-16568784 NBL stats]

{{St. Kilda Saints 1980 NBL champions}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Slusher, Mike}}
Category:1940s births
Category:2026 deaths
Category:American men's basketball players
Category:Basketball players from Ohio
Category:Centers (basketball)
Category:Forwards (basketball)
Category:Miami RedHawks men's basketball players
Category:Nunawading Spectres players
Category:People from Oxford, Ohio
Category:Southern Melbourne Saints players

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mike Slusher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Slusher) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Slusher?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.