Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
As a Lynx basketball player Mike Hettinger had a great eye for the basket, thrilling fans in Mallory Gym with his outstanding shooting and uncanny ability to perform under pressure, so it is only fitting that he became an ophthalmologist, devoting his life to improving and repairing patients’ vision. Mike transferred to Southwestern and played only two seasons; otherwise he likely would still hold many of the Lynx scoring records.
A standout for the Lynx on the 1966-67 and 1967-68 teams, Mike was selected Best Offensive Player for the ’66-’67 season and Most Valuable Player on the ’67-’68 team. In his junior year the Lynx posted a 15-9 record, which was a school record, with Mike averaging 14.9 points per game. He also set school records with 218 free throw attempts and 153 free throws made in a season. Mike continued his torrid scoring pace during his senior season when he averaged 19 points per game, breaking his record for free throws made in a season with 165. In a Lynx win over Millsaps, Mike set a school record with a 17 out of 22 effort from the free throw line. He was selected All College Athletic Conference for the ’66-’67 and ’67-’68 seasons.
A biology major who was mentored by Professors Charles Warren and Harold Lyons, Mike had the highest grade point average on the basketball team his senior year. He was tapped by Omicron Delta Kappa and he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Rhodes was honored to have Mike return to Mallory Gym as the parent of Rachel Hettinger, an outstanding point guard for the Lynx 2002-06.
As evidenced by his sweet shooting stroke and ability to get to the free throw line, Mike Hettinger has always been a winner and a finisher. In recognition of his brilliant academic and basketball career, we are honored to induct MICHAEL EUGENE HETTINGER into the Rhodes Athletics Hall this 29th day of October, 2010.
