Coach Michael Henriques
Graduating class: 1964
Inducted into Hall of Fame: 2026
Hall of Fame Category: Coach
In the early 1960’s Mike Henriques was a hard-nosed, four-year standout on the FHS football team, serving as a captain during his senior season. Mike was also a four year member of the winter and spring track teams, and was a three year member of the Belmont Relays Champion Relay Team.
After graduation in 1964 Mike went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in History at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. He came back to his hometown and started what was to become a 36-year teaching career as a history teacher at Hastings Junior High School. During Mike’s career in the Fairhaven school system, he worked in a number of different positions as an educator and as a coach. Mike served in so many different roles in his career that he could be nicknamed “Swiss army knife”, in that he filled so many different and necessary positions.
After starting out as a history teacher, Mike discovered that there was a need for certified science teachers, so he spent two summers at Bridgewater State College earning his certification as a science teacher. He taught Life Science for the majority of his career, until an opportunity came up for him to teach history at Fairhaven High School. Along the way Mike spent two years as the Vice-Principal at Hastings, and he also did a stint in the position of Guidance Counselor/Attendance Officer. He finished his teaching career at the high school and even spent one year there as the Acting Vice-Principal.
Mike also held down a number of different coaching positions over his career. He was the Head Freshmen Football Coach and is still remembered for his undefeated season when his team only allowed one touchdown during the course of the season. Mike was an assistant football coach for seven years, the head Cross Country coach for three years, the head coach of the Girls’ Winter and Spring Track teams for three years.
When a role needed to be filled, it seems that Mike Henriques was the go-to guy. He was a founding member of the first FHS Hall of Fame Committee for seven years, served as the Official Scorer for the Boys’ Basketball Teams for ten years and served as the color commentator for the local radio station during the fantastic run of the 1978 Blue Devil Basketball Team that made it to the State Championship game.
Mike retired from the Fairhaven Public Schools in 2004, and now he and his wife Susan spend their winters in Punta Gorda, Florida where Mike likes to golf, play cards and help out his neighbors.