Coach Probyn Athletic Achievement Scholarship
Coach Mike Probyn, paced the sidelines for the Nordhoff Rangers for
fifty seasons. Originally from Dearborn Michigan, Mike and his family
moved west in 1962 settling in Ojai. Probyn, class of 1968 has been a
staple of our community for many years. He is a proud member of the lone
1967 boys basketball CIF championship team. Coach describes himself as
a role player on this talented team. That same season, he was awarded the
“Most Improved Player Award.” This award has been renamed in his honor;
“The Mike Probyn Most Improved Player Award.” Upon graduation, Coach
attended Ventura College where he continued to play basketball. However,
in September of 1969, he was drafted into the United States Army to help
fight in the Vietnam War. Probyn served his time and returned to the Ojai
Valley in 1971. In 1975, he returned to Nordhoff to serve as the JV Coach
under Hall of Fame Coach Dick Sebek. Probyn would go on to be the JV
Coach for 27 seasons before being promoted to head coach in 2002. He
served as the head coach for 10 seasons before resigning. He could not
completely leave the game, he stayed on staff as the Freshman coach for
another 13 seasons before officially retiring in 2025.
Coach Probyn is known for his commitment to defense, team-building
and also his undeniable humor. He impacted hundreds of lives throughout
his time at Nordhoff and hopes to help many more achieve their goals.
Coach was unable to finish his college education due to his call of duty. He
wishes nothing more than to help provide financial assistance to a
graduating Senior who committed himself to the program for four seasons,
was a scholar-athlete, and is attending a four-year university. Donations to
this scholarship are greatly appreciated, thank you in advance!
Criteria
- 4 years in the program
- reputable performance
- Scholar-athlete (3.0 GPA or above)
- leadership/community service
- NO disciplinary issues