Coach Turgeon

Mike Turgeon

Mike Turgeon is in his 13th season with the Winona State track and field program for the 2016-17 academic year and has developed the Winona State throws program into one of the premier Division II throws programs in the country. In the past 12 years, he has coached an All-American in each of the six throwing events and five different individual NCAA Division II National Champions. Turgeon's throwers also hold all of Winona State's throws records and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference record in the discus and weight throw. 
 
During 2015-16 season Kaitlyn Long broke the NCAA Division II All-Time National Weight Throw record and NCAA Championship Meet record with a throw of 74 feet 5 ¾ inches. Long’s throw ranks 11th all-time among all collegiate weight throwers across all NCAA and NAIA divisions. Long finished the 15-16 season with the farthest collegiate weight throw mark and was ranked 4th in USA by USATF which includes all professionals and collegians. Long finished the 2016 indoor season by being named the Central Region Field Athlete of the Year along with NSIC Field Athlete of the Year.
 
Coach Turgeon’s Success Includes the following:
5 NCAA Division II National Champions
32 NCAA Division II All-Americans
26 NSIC Individual Conference Champions
2 NSIC Conference Record Holders
69 NCAA Division II National Championships Participants
28 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team members
141 NCAA II Provisional Qualifiers
1 USA Olympic Trials Participant
2 USATF Juniors Qualifier
 
Coach Turgeon’s Student-Athletes continue to sustain the best WSU throwing program in school history:
All of the top 10 20# weight throwers
9 of the top 10 indoor shot putters
All of the top 10 outdoor shot putters
All of the top 10 hammer throwers
All of the top 10 discus throwers
7 of the top 10 javelin throwers
 
Turgeon's efforts have not gone unnoticed by his peers across the nation. He has been named the Central Region's Division II Women's Assistant Coach of the Year four times; 2007, 2010, 2011, and 2016.
 
With his ability to coach and develop throwers, in 2008 Turgeon was selected to attend the Elite Coaching Camp at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. Turgeon was selected from nominations from United States of America Track and Field Development Event Coordinators, USATF Coaches Education representatives, the National High School Senate members and by application. The camp serves to help educate coaches on how to develop athletes who will one day compete in the Olympics or World Championships.
 
As an athlete, Turgeon competed as a thrower at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where he was a two-time NCAA Division III National Champion in the discus. He was a six-time NCAA Division III All-American in the discus and the weight throw. Turgeon won four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships in the discus and was a school and conference record holder in the discus.
Turgeon has an undergraduate and master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Physical Education and a Master of Science in Sport Administration.
 
Coach Turgeon is also the Associate Athletic Director where he oversees the Student-Athlete Success Center (SASC) at Winona State University. The mission of SASC is to give student-athletes the maximum opportunity of academic achievement by providing an enriching environment. SASC provides quality academic support and life skills development for student-athletes.
 
Turgeon lives in Onalaska, Wis. with his wife Abby, and children Drew, and Lola.