Michael Eck, a former University of Virginia football standout, has turned his teenage memories of a strike‑ridden high school season into a memoir titled Strike Season, set for release this August by Regalo Press. The book chronicles his final year at Mount Lebanon High School, where a teachers' strike shaped his outlook and later inspired his transition from the gridiron to the publishing world.
From Wall Street to the Written Word
After graduating from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia in 1984, Eck earned an MBA from Northwestern University and spent a decade on Wall Street as an investment banker. His son Connor, a literary agent, recognized the narrative potential of Eck’s story and urged him to write the memoir, providing the encouragement that ultimately led to the manuscript.
Eck’s interviews with his former coach Art Walker and Mark McCloskey, then‑head of the teachers' union, add depth to the narrative, offering readers a behind‑the‑scenes look at the strike’s impact on students and athletes. The memoir also touches on his later reconnection with UVA football, where he now supports the program financially and through the Life After Virginia Foundation (LAVA), an organization he co‑founded to aid current and former student‑athletes.
Philanthropy and Public Interest
All proceeds from Strike Season will be donated to STEER for Student Athletes, a non‑profit that Eck helped establish to provide educational resources for young athletes. The book’s release has already sparked interest from several publishers and raised the possibility of a film adaptation, a prospect that aligns with Eck’s favorite movies, Remember the Titans and Friday Night Lights.
Beyond the book, Eck remains active in the sports community, collaborating with the Historical Society of Mount Lebanon and contributing to various charitable initiatives. His story illustrates a broader journey of resilience, reinvention, and a commitment to giving back to the next generation of student‑athletes.