Dec. 21, 2011
SAN DIEGO - Michael Dunne, who coached the South Coast Cross Country Elite team to back-to-back USA Junior Cross Country championships in 2009-10, has been named an assistant track and field coach at San Diego State, head coach Shelia Burrell announced today. Dunne will coach the Aztec mid-distance and distance runners, including the cross country team in the fall.
"We are thrilled to add Michael to our coaching staff," Burrell said. "His addition will help our recruiting and alumni relationships with the distance community."
Dunne comes to Montezuma Mesa after a successful six-year stint at San Clemente High School and a four-year term with the SCXC Elite squad. This past season at San Clemente, Dunne guided the Tritons to the CIF Division I State Championship title. Dunne also coached a pair of third-place teams (2008-09) and the individual champion in 2008. He made his presence know right away at San Clemente, helping the Tritons finish eighth in the state in his first year (2006), just one season after they were last in Orange County.
Dunne had even more success with the SCXC Elite, guiding the club team to Junior USA Cross Country national titles in 2009-10 and a third-place finish in 2008. Additionally, Dunne coached the third-place individual finisher at the 2009 USA Cross Country national championship as well as a Footlocker National Championship finalist in 2009.
At the international level, Dunne helped his SCXC Elite athletes qualify for 12 junior national team spots, competing internationally in six countries. Dunne also has coached at four world championships, including two cross country events (2009 and 2011) and two mountain running events (2008 and 2010). Two of his SCXC athletes have won world mountain running championships (third place in 2008, second place in 2009).
"I can't put into words how fortunate I feel to have the opportunity to coach at San Diego State University," Dunne said. "Coaching at the Division I level is a dream come true for me and the chance to do it at SDSU is perfect for my talents and program development. With the athletic facilities, staff, infrastructure, administrative support and athletes all in place, we will have a structured, comprehensive distance program that will propel us to the next level."
Dunne, who received his bachelor's degree in biology from Cornell in 1974 and a master's in exercise physiology and biomechanics at UCLA in 1981, is a certified exercise physiologist, a certified USATF Level 2 Coach, a certified AAF Advanced Track and Field Coach and a certified CIF Coach. Additionally, Dunne is a USATF/USOC Elite Coach in the distance and sprinting events. He also has coaching experience with the USA Disabled Cycling Team (1994-95) and the American Youth Soccer Organization (1996-06).
Over the years, Dunne has coached and worked at over 25 coaching clinics. Dunne was also a featured speaker in sports nutrition at the past two National Coaches Academies.
As an athlete, Dunne was an AAU distance runner from 1978-83 and a member of the USA National Cycling Team in 1988, 1992 and 1993. Dunne competed at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Cycling Road Trials and cycled in Europe from 1992-93. A four-time California state cycling champion on the road and the track and a member of the Olympic Development Program (1986-88), Dunne also competed in the Masters World Championships in 1992 and 1993 in Austria, winning the title in 1993.