Mike Florak

2007 Great Comebacks^® Program Award Recipient Central Region

Diagnosed at age 22 with Crohn's disease, Mike Florak has not let multiple surgeries, dramatic weight losses, or depression keep him from being involved with the sport he loves: Baseball.

In 1998, just two years after ileostomy surgery, at the age of 31, Mike became one of the youngest NCAA Division I head baseball coaches in the country, when he was hired by Youngstown State University. Since then, he has made it his mission to help others by talking - and writing - about his story of overcoming adversity.

Mike's story goes back to 1989, when as a student and already a starter on the baseball team at Ohio University, he received his diagnosis of Crohn's disease. Over the next seven years, frequent flare-ups of his disease would cause him to lose 40 to 60 lbs. at a time, resulting in many trips to the hospital. Still, Mike forged ahead academically and in his baseball career.

Graduating with a bachelor's degree in Journalism/Public Relations in 1991, Mike was ranked in the top five in school history in games played, at bats, home runs, runs scored, runs batted in, walks, and fielding percentage. The following year he became an assistant baseball coach for his alma mater while earning a master's degree in Higher Education Administration.

In 1996, in the midst of a flare-up, Mike underwent ileostomy surgery. After his surgery, Mike became busier than ever. He began speaking at Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and United Ostomy Association meetings around the United States, helping to inspire others with Crohn's disease. “Since my life has been saved, I want to help others,” said Mike.

In addition to his schedule of teaching, coaching and speaking events, he began writing articles for various patient newsletters about his victory in overcoming Crohn's disease and in 2001, published his autobiography, Healthier Than Normal. On top of all that, as head coach at Youngstown State for six years, Mike's teams consistently finished near the top of their conference, culminating with the school's first conference championship in 2004.

Today, 40 year old Mike lives in Boardman, Ohio and recently retired from coaching baseball to become a motivational speaker. Mike says, “I want to continue to let patients know that you can do anything you set your mind to. The only limitations are the ones we place on ourselves.”