Prior to coming to AHS he spent 10 years coaching at the college level, most recently at NCAA division II power Georgia College & State University where he served as an assistant coach for the last five seasons under Head Coach Steve Mrowka, who is now the head baseball coach at Division I George Washington University of the Atlantic 10 conference. While serving as an assistant at GC&SU, the program played in the Peachbelt Conference, was ranked in the top 30 for all five years and played in the NCAA Division II tournament 3 of those years. During those five years at GC&SU he coached 8 players who signed professionally. He also taught math for four years at Baldwin High School while at GC&SU. During his summers, Coach Thees served as pitching coach/assistant coach for the Orleans Cardinals in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League where he coached numerous draft picks including current major leaguers Ben Sheets (RHP Milwaukee Brewers), Mark Teixeira (1B Texas Rangers), Lance Niekro (1B San Francisco Giants), Charles Thomas (OF Oakland A’s), Mike Gosling (LHP Arizona Diamondbacks) and Chad Tracy(3B Arizona Diamond Backs). Prior to going to GC&SU, Coach Thees coached for three seasons at Lake City Community College in FL, which achieved the number 1 ranking in the nation for junior colleges during the 1999 season. During those three years at LCCC numerous players were drafted and signed professionally. Coach Thees also served as a part-time scout for the Atlanta Braves during 1999. He also served as a graduate assistant/pitching coach at West Georgia College from 1995-1996. As a player Thees played for legendary head Coach Hugh "Buck" Buchanan at Parkview High School. Thees’ father was also a head baseball coach in the Atlanta, GA area for over 20 years and is a member of the Gwinnett County Sports Hall of Fame. After high school Thees played at Truett-McConnell Junior College (GA) before transferring to Carson Newman College (TN) where he was selected in the 33rd round of the 1991 major league amateur draft by the Oakland A’s. He pitched for 2 seasons in the Oakland A’s organization culminating in a week long stint in Triple-A Tacoma (WA). He was later signed by the Cincinnati Reds. Mike has twin daughters Megan and Ally.