By Katherine Jamtgaard for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State Head Cross Country Coach and Associate Track and Field Coach, Michael Curcio, has left the cross country and track and field programs to take a position as the head cross country and track & field coach at the University of the South, familiarly known as Sewanee.
“On behalf of the entire staff, we want to thank Coach Curcio for everything he has done for App State Track and Field and Cross Country over three-plus decades,” said Damion McLean, Director of Track & Field and Cross Country. “He has impacted hundreds of student-athletes and left a sizable legacy in App State Athletics and Appalachian State University. He has helped mentor some of the best teams and athletes in App State history while promoting a high level of competitive excellence and academic integrity. We wish him the best.”
Curcio, a 1987 App State graduate who was on four conference championship teams during his time as a Mountaineer athlete, led App State to 13 conference championships (11 Southern Conference, two Sun Belt) in men’s cross country and four league titles (two SoCon, two Sun Belt) in women’s cross country after joining the staff in 1995. He mentored 167 cross country all-conference performers and was named conference cross country coach of the year 14 times.
Curcio’s overall record in men’s and women’s cross country meets was 510-59, including a 179-20 mark against Sun Belt teams.
While coaching the distance runners in track & field, Curcio coached 72 athletes (59 SoCon, 13 Sun Belt) to indoor and outdoor individual champion performances and 273 all-conference indoor and outdoor performances. He also coached two athletes to indoor track & field MVP awards and four outdoor track & field MVP awards, while mentoring four NCAA All-Americans.
In the classroom, Curcio’s athletes garnered 19 USTFCCCA All-Academic awards. The women’s cross country team earned All-Academic status for 23 consecutive seasons, while the men’s cross country team earned the status in 23 of his 28 seasons.
App State track and field squads won 38 conference titles during Curcio’s coaching tenure.
In addition to his athletes’ competitive success, Curcio will long be remembered for his personal impact on their lives. He has taught countless student-athletes about unselfishness, professionalism and accountability. He has given sound advice, helped many athletes and alumni navigate challenges, and demonstrated how to be a leader with a compassionate heart. The foundation Curcio helped build, and his ethos “Family. School. Team.” will forever be a part of App State Athletics’ story.
The Mountaineers will immediately begin a national search for the future leadership of App State cross country and distance running.
