Mike Nance

Profession:  Vice President of Nance Carpet

High School:  Calhoun High School

From an early age, it was obvious that Mike Nance would carry on a family tradition of being a talented athlete.  Before High School, Nance would win the Elk’s Club Hoop Shoot for the District in 1974 and 1975.  While making All-Star teams in football, baseball, and basketball, Nance also had great success in tennis, where he won the Sequoyah Open Singles Championship in 1975.

At Calhoun High School, Nance would make the varsity basketball team as a Freshman.  Nance would spend 4 years on the varsity squad and ended up having one of the most decorated careers in the school’s history.  Nance broke the single game scoring game record with 51 points in 1981.  He is also the All-Time Top Rebounder in the school’s history.  Nance’s career stats in career points, points per game, and free throw percentage all rank among the very best in Calhoun history.  As a result of these accomplishments, Nance received numerous awards and recognitions.   Nance was nominated to the McDonald’s All America Team, Voted MVP of the Calhoun Basketball Team, twice recognized as the Calhoun Times #1 Basketball Player, twice selected to the Rome News Tribune and Chattanooga Times Free Press All-Area Teams, elected Team Captain his Senior Year, and was recognized as the Shoney’s Outstanding Player of the Year.  All of this would lead to a Full Basketball Scholarship to Valdosta State.

As talented as he was in basketball, Nance was equally as impressive on the tennis court.  As a 4-year letterman, Nance was a two-time region champion in doubles tennis.  Nance would also finish runner-up in doubles tennis at the State level on two different occasions.  

After enrolling at Valdosta State, Nance was a starter as a Redshirt Freshman on the basketball team before transferring to Shorter College in 1983.  In 1985, Nance led the nation in Free Throw Percentage, but was just 2 attempts short of receiving the national recognition.  Another highlight of his Senior season was being named the Covenant Invitational MVP.  At the time, Nance was also the All-Time leader in Free Throw Percentage at Shorter College.  

Nance has continued his passion for athletics after college.  As a softball player, he would be a member of 7 straight Church League and Recreation District Championship teams.  During that run, he had 4 hitting percentage titles and 5 homerun titles.  He was also a member of the 1993 Open Division Co-Ed State Championship Team.  

Nance also played basketball for several years after college.  He was a member of open league championship teams in Dalton and Calhoun, as well as church league championship teams.  Of the many highlights of his basketball career was a game in which Nance scored 67 points while hitting 20 3-pointers in one game.  

Nance’s tennis career also continued after college.  In 1997, Nance was the USTA State Champion in Men’s Singles and Mixed Doubles.  In both 1997 and 1998, he would win a State Championship in the Men’s Open Division for 35 and over Doubles.  

While he has had a great deal of success in several sports after college, golf could be his most successful sport of all!  Among the many highlights in his golf career include being a 16-Time Golf Channel Amateur Tour Champion, Runner-up in the 2006 National Golf Channel Amateur Championship, Three-Time National Champion of the American Cancer Society Tournament, and Two-Time Roman Open Champion.  Nance has also partnered with his Father and Member of the Inaugural Gordon County Hall of Fame Inductee, Bob Nance on several championships.  

It is clear to see that Nance has numerous athletic accolades, but he has also been extremely successful in his business career.  Joining the family business in 1985, he has helped to grow the company from a 1 plant, 15 employee operation to 4 plants and 200 employees today.  In 2000, Nance helped to start Greenscapes Home & Garden in Calhoun.  Over the years, Nance has developed a reputation for being one of the very best in the industry in developing new ideas and innovative products that are sold across the United States.  

Nance has three children named Presley, Nash, and Robert Michael.  Presley attended Oglethorpe University on a basketball scholarship and studied in Los Angeles to become a make-up artist.  Presley has her esthetician license and is also the Vice President of Sales for Nance Industries.  Nash received a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee.  After two seasons in Knoxville, Nash transferred to Hampden Sydney and became an All-American Quarterback for the program.  He would win the Willie Lanier Award from the Richmond Touchdown Club, which is given to the top football player in the state of Virginia.  Nash graduated with a degree in Economics and is Director of Dotcom and Online Sales for Nance Industries.  Robert Michael is a 6th Grade Student at Calhoun Middle School.  Any doubt of Robert Michael being the son of Mike Nance is eliminated by the red hair!  Robert loves baseball and school musicals and plays.