Photo by: Will Schneekloth
Mulqueen Announces Retirement After Four Decades Coaching
Jun 11 | Track & Field
Multiple Coach of the Year honors, Big East and IC4A Championships highlight decorated career
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Longtime Rutgers men's cross country and track and field coach Mike Mulqueen announced his retirement after an incredible four decades with the program. A six-time conference coach of the year and five-time NCAA District Coach of the Year, Mulqueen served 42 seasons as the head coach of the men's track and field and cross country programs.
"Mike is one of the most decorated coaches in Rutgers Athletics history," said Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. "His guidance of the track & field and cross country program over the years yielded countless successes in competition and in the classroom. We thank Mike and his family for their dedication to Rutgers during an incredible four decades and we celebrate the legacy he leaves behind."
"It was a real honor to coach at Rutgers for so many years," said Mulqueen. "I am very proud of everything that we accomplished on the track, in the field and in the classroom. I want to thank my family, especially my wife Tracey, for all of their support over the years."
A public recognition will be held in the fall during a men's basketball game to commemorate the extraordinary achievements of the Rutgers track and field program while under Mulqueen's guidance.
During his time "On the Banks," Mulqueen achieved several milestones, including 54 All-Americans, 94 conference champions, 64 NCAA Qualifiers, 30 Metropolitan Championships, 2005 BIG EAST Outdoor Championship, and both the 2005 IC4A Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
Under Mulqueen's leadership, the men's track and field program has seen 281 Metropolitan Champions, 71 IC4A Champions, and 400+ All-East selections. Additionally, 13 Big Ten Champions, 26 Big Ten medals and 70 podium finishes have been achieved on the men's side. More than 80 school records have been set by Mulqueen's student-athletes, including Billy Hill resetting the indoor mile record in 2021, which was last established in 1975.
Since his appointment, Mulqueen developed Rutgers into one of the strongest programs in the college ranks. He had perhaps his proudest moment as a coach when former Scarlet Knight Balazs Koranyi participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics in the 800 meters, ultimately reaching the semifinals. Koranyi later reached the semifinals at the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia. He also coached five Junior National Champions, 108 BIG EAST Champions and 10 national sports festival participants.
Mulqueen's cross country and track and field teams placed in the top five at the BIG EAST Championship 20 times, won 30 Metropolitan Championships and placed in the top three on 50 other occasions. He has seen his teams finish among the top 10 in the IC4A 20 times. In 2019, RU saw its first all-district runner in cross country since 1989.
In the classroom, the Scarlet Knights have been named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams for over 20 track & field and cross country seasons. A total of 100+ student-athletes have earned Big Ten All-Academic honors, including 31 receiving induction into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society. Highlighting the countless academic achievements was Randal Pinkett, who earned a Rhodes Scholarship.
Mulqueen, a 1976 graduate of Manhattan, was a member of the 1973 NCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Championship team and was one of the Jaspers' top hurdlers during his career. He specialized in the 400 hurdles, earning four varsity letters with the Jaspers and was inducted in the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame with the Class of 2019.
Follow Rutgers track & field and cross country on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
"Mike is one of the most decorated coaches in Rutgers Athletics history," said Director of Athletics Pat Hobbs. "His guidance of the track & field and cross country program over the years yielded countless successes in competition and in the classroom. We thank Mike and his family for their dedication to Rutgers during an incredible four decades and we celebrate the legacy he leaves behind."
"It was a real honor to coach at Rutgers for so many years," said Mulqueen. "I am very proud of everything that we accomplished on the track, in the field and in the classroom. I want to thank my family, especially my wife Tracey, for all of their support over the years."
A public recognition will be held in the fall during a men's basketball game to commemorate the extraordinary achievements of the Rutgers track and field program while under Mulqueen's guidance.
During his time "On the Banks," Mulqueen achieved several milestones, including 54 All-Americans, 94 conference champions, 64 NCAA Qualifiers, 30 Metropolitan Championships, 2005 BIG EAST Outdoor Championship, and both the 2005 IC4A Indoor and Outdoor Championships.
Under Mulqueen's leadership, the men's track and field program has seen 281 Metropolitan Champions, 71 IC4A Champions, and 400+ All-East selections. Additionally, 13 Big Ten Champions, 26 Big Ten medals and 70 podium finishes have been achieved on the men's side. More than 80 school records have been set by Mulqueen's student-athletes, including Billy Hill resetting the indoor mile record in 2021, which was last established in 1975.
Since his appointment, Mulqueen developed Rutgers into one of the strongest programs in the college ranks. He had perhaps his proudest moment as a coach when former Scarlet Knight Balazs Koranyi participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics in the 800 meters, ultimately reaching the semifinals. Koranyi later reached the semifinals at the 2000 games in Sydney, Australia. He also coached five Junior National Champions, 108 BIG EAST Champions and 10 national sports festival participants.
Mulqueen's cross country and track and field teams placed in the top five at the BIG EAST Championship 20 times, won 30 Metropolitan Championships and placed in the top three on 50 other occasions. He has seen his teams finish among the top 10 in the IC4A 20 times. In 2019, RU saw its first all-district runner in cross country since 1989.
In the classroom, the Scarlet Knights have been named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams for over 20 track & field and cross country seasons. A total of 100+ student-athletes have earned Big Ten All-Academic honors, including 31 receiving induction into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society. Highlighting the countless academic achievements was Randal Pinkett, who earned a Rhodes Scholarship.
Mulqueen, a 1976 graduate of Manhattan, was a member of the 1973 NCAA Men's Indoor Track & Field National Championship team and was one of the Jaspers' top hurdlers during his career. He specialized in the 400 hurdles, earning four varsity letters with the Jaspers and was inducted in the Manhattan College Athletic Hall of Fame with the Class of 2019.
Follow Rutgers track & field and cross country on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
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