Mike Hart Gets to #600
For over three decades, Coach Mike Hart has been a fixture in New England prep basketball, leading St. Andrew’s School to numerous wins throughout the years.
Last week, Hart reached an extraordinary milestone: his 600th career win.
Hart’s journey to coaching greatness began in Rhode Island where he’s carved his name into the state’s basketball history.
Growing up in Smithfield, he was around the game from a young age due to his father, who founded the Smithfield Youth Basketball Association.
After a standout high school career, Hart kept his playing days going at CCRI before moving on to play in the NAIA at the University of Maine at Fort Kent.
Larry Murphy, Hart’s head coach at UMFK, saw something special in him, telling him that he would be a great coach. Those words planted a seed in his head, and soon after graduating, he entered the coaching ranks.
His first coaching position was at a small private school, where he coached in both football and basketball. Not long after, it was when he took the reins at St. Andrew’s School that Hart found his true calling. Over the next 31 seasons, he transformed the small prep school in Barrington into a respected program.
Hart’s teams have amassed a 600-297 record while competing against some of the toughest prep programs in the region.
St. Andrew’s has captured seven NEPSAC Championships, reached the NEPSAC Finals three times, and claimed three SENE titles under Coach Hart's leadership.
Outside of winning games, Hart has been instrumental in helping players achieve their dreams, guiding over 200 student-athletes to college basketball careers at all levels.
His program has produced five NBA players, including Cole Swider, Michael Carter-Williams, Bonzie Colson, and Demetris Nichols. Add six G League alumni and 21 professionals overseas to the mix, and it’s clear Hart has created a pipeline to succeed at the next levels of the game.
One of Hart’s greatest strengths might be his ability to connect with students from all walks of life. He's prided himself on creating a program that supports everyone that steps into it, creating an environment where players can grow both on and off the court.
With an impressive core of young players in the mix, St. Andrew’s looks positioned for many more wins in the future.