Active in Frederick youth sports in his early childhood, Mike Daye went on to star for the Frederick HS Cadets in football. He then played football at Shepherd College (now Shepherd University), where he garnered all-conference recognition in his junior and senior years. He held the West Virginia Conference sack record for over 25 years. Mike later went on to play for the Frederick Falcons semi-pro team for a number of years. His involvement in football continued as a high school assistant coach at Thomas Johnson HS and Middletown HS for 23 years. During that time, he coached track and field at Frederick Community College and Frederick HS, coached lacrosse at Thomas Johnson HS, and basketball at Tuscarora.