Motivation Monday - Head Cross Country Coach Mike Tursi
Lincroft, NJ - Head cross country coach, Mike Tursi, released a quote for the Jersey Blues Motivation Monday series. "It doesn't matter how big the mountain is; as long as there is a mountain to climb, we are going to climb it. The only way to get to the top however, is through hard work, determination, and teamwork."
Lincroft, NJ - Head cross country coach, Mike Tursi, released a quote for the Jersey Blues Motivation Monday series. "It doesn't matter how big the mountain is; as long as there is a mountain to climb, we are going to climb it. The only way to get to the top however, is through hard work, determination, and teamwork."
Coach Mike Tursi was hired as the head coach of the men's and women's cross-country teams in June of 2019. Coach Tursi served as the Mater Dei head boys cross country and track coach for 30 years. He brings with him Coach Dennis Flynn the "right hand man" who was his assistant coach at Mater Dei in both cross country and track for the past 17 years. Coach Tursi is well known for his enthusiasm and passion for coaching, especially of distance runners. He is dedicated to helping each team member meet their goals and obtain their best times while stressing the importance of being part of a team.
Coach Tursi's successful Mater Dei cross country teams were Non-Public B State Champions in 1997, 1999, 2007 and 2017. He also coached his cross country teams to 14 division titles. He has been awarded Cross Country Coach of the Year by the Asbury Park Press and by Digital Sports.com. He also coached numerous individual state champions and invitational winners. He was inducted into the Mater Dei Hall of Fame in 2015.
In addition, Coach Tursi was also the head indoor and outdoor boys track coach at Mater Dei. His program was just as successful, with his teams winning Non-Public B outdoor State Track Championships in 1999, 2000, 2006, 2017 and 2018. His track teams also won 7 division championships. He was awarded Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year for New Jersey by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for 2017. He was also chosen as the Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year by the Star Ledger for Monmouth County in 1999 and the Asbury Park Press in 1998.
Coach Tursi was a Monmouth Regional High School cross country and track athlete and then competed for York College of Pennsylvania from which he graduated with a B.A. in Marketing in 1985. Tursi was certified by the Track and Field Academy in the spring of 2014. He is a special education teacher at the Children's Center of Monmouth County where he has taught since 1996. He is married and the father of three girls. Coach Tursi resides in Eatontown, NJ.