This 1984 graduate has been a part of Roseburg High School basketball for more than 20 years as both a player and coach. Mike Pardon's long and successful career on-the-hardwood has earned him the title of Douglas County Sports Online's latest DC Great.

Pardon was born and raised in Roseburg and eventually became one of the best prep players to ever come out of Roseburg High School. As a sophomore, he earned second-team All-conference honors and helped lead the Indians to the OSAA State Tournament and a third-place trophy during the 1981-82 season.

"I was the only underclassmen on that team, which included Paul Robertson, Brent Tatum, Dan Bartrum and Dave Schmidt," Pardon said. "I only started seven times that season, but I led the team in scoring during five of those games."

Pardon's junior and senior seasons ended with disappointing playoff losses and he never made it back to the state tournament, but his individual accomplishments were nothing short of extraordinary. He was twice named the Southern Oregon Conference's "Player of the Year" and ended his career with numerous school records. Pardon graduated as the Indians all-time leading scorer (1,100), points per game average in a season (25.1) and most points in a single game (42). He held the title as the school's career scoring leading scorer for 13 years before it was broken by Matt Brown in 1998. That record was surpassed in 2002 by former Roseburg great Joe Newton.

Mike would continue his playing career in college at Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho. Pardon played four seasons for the NAIA school and his teams made the playoffs during each year of his career.

"My best season I averaged just over 15 points a game," Pardon said. "During my junior season, I finished 'top five' in the nation after shooting 58 percent from three-point range." 

After graduation, Pardon found his way back to Douglas County becoming a US History and Government teacher at his alma mater. He also tried his hand at coaching as an assistant for the boys varsity program under his high school coach, Bill Walker. In 1993, Pardon took over as the school's head basketball coach and kept that position until 2006. His team's won four conference titles and twice qualified for the OSAA State Tournament in Portland.

"I've coached some talented athletes and some very good teams," Pardon said. "We always battled hard against the best teams in the league, like South Medford and Grants Pass."

Currently, local hoops fans can see Pardon pacing the sidelines at Stewart Robertson Memorial Gymnasium as an assistant coach for the girls varisty team. Mike also has the extra thrill of coaching his daughter, Kelsey, a junior starter on this year's ballclub.

"I love teaching and seeing the kids get better," Pardon said. "Our record may not show it, but the girls keep improving each and every day."

The 2008-09 season may be coming to an end, but you can guarantee that Mike Pardon will be a part of Roseburg basketball for years to come.

"Kelsy has one more season, plus I also coach my youngest daughter's sixth grade team," Pardon said. "It's all about spending time with my kids and this is a great way for us to be together."