Growing up in a baseball family, Mike Cadarette spent his time playing and learning the game of baseball at a young age.

Cadarette lettered in golf and football at Alpena High School, but it was baseball that was his passion and that passion for the game would eventually lead Cadarette to becoming arguably the most successful coach in Alpena High School history.

“My family all played baseball. It was my parents that got me into it during Little League and that’s where it all started,” Cadarette said. “Many of my older family members played in the County League when I was a kid and I remember going to those games at a young age and just fell in love with the game.”

Cadarette could play all nine positions on the baseball field and was always a star who regularly hit for power and a high batting average.

Outside of baseball, Cadarette was a six-time club champion in golf, but it was his work on the diamond that eventually led him to continue his playing career at the collegiate level.

Cadarette went on to play baseball at Alpena Community College after high school and after finishing up his stellar playing career, he stayed involved in the game by beginning what would be a legendary coaching career.

Cadarette served as Alpena’s baseball coach for 20 years, compiling an overall record of 370-132. Under Cadarette, the Wildcats finished with at least 21 wins in eight of his 20 seasons as skipper.

During his time at Alpena, the Wildcats were always a serious contender not just in the conference, but throughout the state. Cadarette taught his players the basics, improved player skills offensively and defensively and his players understood how to play the game and win, along with exceeding expectations far beyond what was expected of them.

Cadarette led Alpena to district and regional honors, including the Wildcats’ last regional championship to date in 1998.

“I had the honor of coaching a lot of great players. I began coaching in 1978 and still remember many of the great players to play for me over the years including Blaise Ilsley, Jeff Sheppler, Nick and Tim Alexander, Dan and Andy Rohn and many others that were great,” Cadarette said. “We had outstanding talent on that 98 team, including three all-state players in Ryan Krueger, along with both Nick and Tim Alexander. Our pitching staff was dominant led by Matt Cameron and Nate Barden, with Greg Skiba catching, it was easy to coach when you have that kind of talent.”

That magical season was jump started early in the year when the Wildcats traveled to play in a tournament at Madonna University that featured several downstate juggernauts. Alpena showed no fear despite being called “the team from up north” as they went a perfect 4-0 and didn’t allow a single run to win the tournament.

“I still remember that tournament and going down to play the caliber of teams that we did. No one expected much from us because we were coming from the north, but boy did we surprise them,” Cadarette said. “Winning that tournament really set the tone for the rest of our season as we went on to win a regional championship in Mt. Pleasant.”

Two years after Alpena’s regional championship, Cadarette was inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999.

Cadarette also had the opportunity to coach in the Michigan high school all-star game in 1992 at Tiger Stadium and coached a team that included Derek Jeter.

“I spent four years as vice president in the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association and knew a few guys who had connections with Mr. Ilitch. I was able to coach the all-star game in 92 and got to see first hand just how great Jeter was,” Cadarette said. “He was drafted by the Yankees in 92, but wanted to play in the all-star game and shortly after went on to sign with the Yankees and the rest is history.”

Not only did Cadarette serve as Alpena baseball coach, but he also was the schools athletic director for nine years. After his coaching career was complete, Cadarette was selected as regional athletic director of the year in 2001.

“I had been a teacher for 25 years and in 1995 I was asked to be full time athletic director to help guide some of the younger coaches that we had coming up through our sports programs. I had been coaching for 15 years, so I decided to give it a try,” Cadarette said.

It wasn’t long before Cadarette made an impact as athletic director as he was apart of a group that was the first to organize the Big North Conference and he played a huge role in getting the conference that Alpena still competes in today going.

In 2017, Cadarette now takes his place as a member of the Alpena Sports Hall of Fame after an impressive career playing and coaching.

“It’s quite an honor. I’ve always strived to put in an entire life and career in order to get recognized,” Cadarette said. “I have had many people that helped me along the way and without them, nothing that I have had the honor to achieve in this lifetime would be possible.”