Michael John Whitmarsh[1] (May 18, 1962 – February 17, 2009) was an American male volleyball and basketball player. He won the silver medal in the men's inaugural beach volleyball tournament at the 1996 Summer OlympicsinAtlanta, partnering with Mike Dodd. Throughout his volleyball career, Whitmarsh earned over $1.6 million as well as 28 tournament wins.[2]
Whitmarsh played college basketball for the San Diego Toreros. He was a two-time all-conference player in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC), known now as the West Coast Conference, and led San Diego to their first-ever conference title in 1984. He played professional basketball for three years in Europe before turning to volleyball.[3]
The 6-foot-7-inch (2.01 m) Whitmarsh played college basketball at USD. He started all 24 games as a junior, averaging 15.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and earning all-conference honors in the WCAC. As a senior in 1983–84, he averaged 18.8 points and 7.3 rebounds and led the Toreros to an 18–10 record and the 1984 NCAA tournament. In the final game of the regular season against Saint Mary's, he had 24 points and six rebounds in a 68–59 win to clinch the Torreros' first-ever WCAC title. He was named All-WCAC again, and was runner-up to John Stockton in the voting for the WCAC Player of the Year.[4]
Whitmarsh was drafted by the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers in the fifth round in 1984.[5] He also narrowly missed making the roster of the Minnesota Timberwolves, and played professionally in Germany for three years before abandoning basketball in favor of beach volleyball.[2] Transitioning from the indoor hard court to the soft sand of beach volleyball (which is often played under hot and humid conditions) was not easy, and he developed a reputation for cramping late in tournaments.[6]
Whitmarsh quickly adapted to the beach with his powerful blocks at the net and won over the fans.[2] In 1990, he was selected as Rookie of the Year by the AVP.[7] In 2001, he was ranked number 1 in the AVP.[7] In 2002, he was named the Best Blocker by the AVP.[7] He retired from beach volleyball in 2004.[2]
Whitmarsh was in the midst of a divorce from his wife Cindy and was found dead in a friend's garage on Wednesday, February 17, 2009, leaving behind two young daughters.[2][8] According to the San Diego County medical examiner, he died of suicide from inhalation of carbon monoxide from automobile exhaust.[2][8]
