An Update From the MSTCA President
President’s Update
One year ago today, i learned that the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association (MSTCA) was without a President and the job was mine if I said yes to the call to step up! I did and can honestly say that this was a challenging, but rewarding year. I was fortunate to have some amazing coaches already in key leadership roles and equally lucky to have the ability to appoint others to vacant positions throughout our organization. We are thriving and our membership numbers are growing. Coach Matt Griffin, our Vice President/Membership Chair, excels in communication and engaging new member coaches.
Coach Fred Doyle, our Director of Special Events, is looking forward to providing another phenomenal New England (NE) Coaches Clinic this year at a new location, the Burlington Marriott, 17-18 March and we hope for record attendance. Mark your calendars & plan to attend. More on the New England Track and Field Clinic clinic
The Spring Outdoor Track & Field season is fast approaching on the heels of an outstanding Winter Indoor Track & Field season. Huge thanks to Coach Matt Carr (Director of Meet Operations-Indoor), Coach Sotirios Pintzopoulos (Assistant Director-Indoor): Coach Derek Ellis (Director of Timing), the various Meet Directors who represented every corner of the state, Coach Chuck Martin (Director of Equipment & Logistics), MTFOA, CMTFOA & WMTFOA AND the staff of the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center (RLTAC). Coach Mike Miller (Director of Meet Operations-Outdoor) has posted the MSTCA Calendar of Spring MSTCA meets and will add the formats as soon as the Outdoor Committee Coaches meets next week.
Speaking of RLTAC, for the past year, Coach Carr & I have served on Roxbury Community College’s (RCC) Pathway Forward Committee at the request of RCC’s Interim President Jackie Jenkins-Scott to develop a Blueprint for the Future for RLTAC. The partnership has been amazing & the finished report of the committee provides just what we need to improve RLTAC for not only the thousands of student-athletes who race and train there, but also to spark the revitalization of community outreach which thrived under the leadership of Former RLTAC Executive Director/Coach Keith McDermott. Each & every MSTCA member should read the report and encourage your local elected officials to support/sponsor legislation that will give “the Reggie” the much needed attention it deserves to remain a Mecca for track & field competitions and vibrant community activities in Roxbury & the greater Boston area. Read more here in the Boston Globe
In closing, I look forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming events, especially the NE Coaches Clinic Social, where we will recognize our outstanding coaches with Coach of the Year awards. Also, Coach Jayson Sylvain (MSTCA CFO/Interim Director of Meet Operations-XC) & I will preside at the Annual General Membership Meeting & free pizza lunch on Saturday, 18 March during the NE Coaches Clinic where we are hoping for a large turnout of member coaches. Please remember to keep the coach award nominations coming and to support your fantastic student-athletes by assisting them in applying for MSTCA Scholarships & MSTCA Camperships
Final Thanks to Coach Kent Taylor ( Director of Communications-Social Media) & Coach Hatim Jean-Louis for keeping our coaches, athletes, & fans on top of exciting news and meet coverage.