Michael Coccia '16 Recruiting Profile

Hi Coaches,

I didn't start running until grade nine, although I had run the one cross country and track days in grade school. In grade nine I was certainly quite raw and still growing which really made expectations hard to predict. I came out well and won my District and then my Regional Cross Country Meets. My Ontario Championships results were not strong and at that time I realized I was addicted and I was going to put the hard work in. My coaches, both high school and club were not sure what I could produce, but they all have said one thing to me from the very start of getting to know me and that is that I have some of the biggest guts in a runner they have ever seen. I didn't come out of the gate as a kid who was assured of medals but I worked hard and I truly wanted to be great. Along the way I have won some medals and have placed myself into the mix of guys on the line who people expect can win, that is great, but I want to be the guy that people are chasing, that is my next step. 

To accomplish the goal I know I need to get to the best competition and I feel the NCAA is the place for me. I am ready to move away and spread my wings and not only grow as a runner but also a person. I am great with my teammates and love the group aspect of running. The team component is a part I feel many guys forget about, but it certainly adds to the workouts and the group mentality is where guys help to push each other so we all can achieve great results. As for real time goals, that is hard for me to lay down at this time as I have not even competed in my grade 11 track season yet, but I am certainly going under 3:55 for the 1500m and I am driven to break 8:30 in the 3000m. I have decided I am going to experiment with steeple as well. I want to be a well rounded runner when I graduate and I know that a NCAA program will then harness what I have developed and take me to times that currently may seem hard to imagine but I know I can and will attain.

To go along with my running I am good student with good marks. I intend to deliver to a NCAA school in both areas. As much as I would like to be a runner forever and have that be where I make my living, I know that I need to grab the chance to get a great education and have that in my pocket for when that time comes.

So why am I good for your school, I am driven to be the best I can be and I not only want to have individual success I want to work with others and help them get better. I know I am a gutty runner, the tougher the conditions the better it is for me. I wont quit, I have had races where I probably should have pulled off but I didn't. I am friendly and get along with others and fit in well. I have become a leader both with my high school and club teams. I don't look for excuses to not train I look for opportunities to get better and I will help others to drive hard on the days when they are not feeling it. I want to learn and listen closely to my coaching. I know I started a bit later than many of my fellow runners but I know I am catching if not passing many of them, and I know I will catch the rest of them!