Mike Ditka Biography, Life, Interesting Facts

Early Life

Michael Keller Ditka Jr. was born on October 18, 1939, in Carnegie, Pennsylvania to Charlotte and Mike Ditka Sr. He was one of 4 children. He had two brothers Ashton and David. And he had one sister Mary Ann.

Mike attended Aliquippa High school during his teenage years. His college years were spent at the University of Pittsburg from 1958 to 1960. During that time he became a member of the sigma chi fraternity. He attended on a scholarship for football. He had also received scholarships to Notre Dame, Penn state but decided on the one at Pittsburg.

He had hoped to escape the manufacturing life of his hometown, so he attended college hoping to become a dentist. But it was not to be. No, he didn’t go into Manufacturing. But instead, he followed a life of football.

During college, Mike Ditka was good in basketball and baseball. But he ultimately chose football as his career. He also joined the college football all-American team while there in college.

Family Life

Mike Ditka married his first wife Marge Dougherty on January 28, 1961. During their marriage, they had three sons and a daughter. Mark, Mike III, Matt, and Megan were the children. Mike and Marge divorced 12 years later on September 21, 1973. Then on July 8, 1977, Mike remarried to Diana Trentham. They have been together ever since.

Mike loves to cook for his wife and children. With the collaboration and support of his wife, he runs a family restaurant.