University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire

Mike Ratliff was inducted into the Blugold Hall of Fame in 1983.

Ratliff developed into what arguably was the most dominant basketball player in school history. Coming to Eau Claire as a skinny 6-7 freshman from Racine Horlick, Ratliff left as a 6-10 leaper who was drafted by and played one year in the NBA with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. He was an NAIA First Team All-American on the 1972 team which posted a 29-2 record and finished runner-up in the 32-team NAIA National Tournament at Kansas City. Ratliff started 108 consecutive games and scored what was then a school record 1,994 points for his career with 1,492 rebounds and 274 blocked shots as the Blugolds registered a 94-14 won-lost mark during his tenure. Ratliff set school single season and career rebounding and blocked shot records.  Ratliff was a three-time All-Conference pick and was named the conference Player of the Year three times, sharing it with teammate Frank Schade as a senior. Behind Ratliff, the Blugolds won three straight conference championships, including unbeaten 16-0 seasons in both 1970-71 and 1971-72.

After one season in the NBA, Ratliff continued his pro career in Italy and France and then went to work for UNICEF in Paris.