Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, March 22, 2024 A COACH FOR ALL SEASONS: Malden High’s ‘Coach Dan’ is a mentor for Tornados all year round Jurkowski heads up Girls Volleyball, JV Basketball and is set for 8th season as Head Boys Volleyball Coach By Shuyi Chen Malden High School Blue & Gold W ith another Spring Season upon us, Head Coach Dan Jurkowski is ready to start up the Malden High School Boys Volleyball season. Jurkowski, known universally around MHS as “Coach Dan,” is a tri-sport coach who coaches Girls Varsity Volleyball, Boys Varsity Volleyball and Boys JV Basketball at Malden High School. All three of the teams coached by him have found success in each of their respective seasons, with both of his Varsity Volleyball teams qualifying for the MIAA D1 State Tournament – the Boys last spring of 2023 and the Girls this past Fall Season – and his JV Basketball team having a productive rebuilding season. Not only is Coach Dan a prominent coach for Malden High sports, but he is also a very appreciated physical education teacher here at MHS working alongside other Phys-Ed teachers Mark Gagnon, Jonathan Currier, Nancy Wentworth and Mary-Jo Urquhart. Growing up in Belchertown, Mass., and competing for his hometown Belchertown High School in Western Mass., Jurkowski was a tri-sport athlete, playing varsity soccer, basketball Malden Girls Volleyball has steadily improved since being named to the Fall Sports slate at MHS. (Courtesy Photo/Malden Boys Volleyball) for Jurkowski; however, when he was off ered these positions, he knew he had to do it. “I grew up playing these sports and my love for these sports is what encouraged me to coach,” Jurkowski said. His passion for coaching and the sport was passed on to his players, too. To Jurkowski, a team is more than just their record. “As I get older, the aspects of coaching I enjoy the most are building relationships with my players, and hopefully allowing them to love basketball and volleyball,” Coach Dan said. “I would also like all my players to enjoy being part of a team and culture as much as I did.” Girls’ Varsity Volleyball Captain Coach Dan Jurkowski is a three-sport coach, with Varsity Girls Volleyball in the Fall Season, JV Boys Basketball in the Winter Season and Varsity Boys Volleyball in the Spring Season. (Courtesy/Malden High Blue and Gold/Shuyi Chen Photo) and volleyball. However, he was most impressive on the court playing basketball. Standing at the height of 5'11, he was their star shooting guard, still holding the school record for most three-pointers made in a single game with 10. Before becoming a physical education teacher and coach Here is Coach Dan Jurkowski with his most successful Varsity Boys Volleyball Team, the 2021 team that went 18-2 in the regular season before falling in the MIAA Division 1 State Boys Volleyball Tournament. (Courtesy Photo/Malden Boys Volleyball) here at Malden in 2015-2016, he attended UMass Amherst, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management. Following his graduation in 2007, he got his fi rst job as a video coordinator for basketball at UMass Amherst. In the fall of 2015, Jurkowski began working as a physical education teacher at the Salemwood School, where he met many great student-athletes that he would go on to coach and mentor at the high school. Becoming a coach is not linear ~ Malden Neighborhood Basketball League ~ Madness Weekend – “Finish the Season” 2024 Malden Neighborhood Basketball League Team W L Games Streak behind Bullets - c* 14 1 Sixers - c 11 4 Lakers - c 7 Celtics - c 5 Pistons 8 Kings 4 4 10 9 0 W - 12 3 W - 2 L - 7 L - 1 7 11 10 L - 1 11 10 W - 1 c - clinched playoff spot – * - clinched 1st Saturday, March 16, at Ferryway The day started off with our annual “Hot Shot Contest.” We started with 8 & it came down to the Bullets’ Logan Guertin & the Kings’ Terrell Xue, and “The league’s leading scorer” took home the Hot Shot Title. Game 1 – Bullets 62, Celtics 32 The heavily favored Bullets (+15) took care of business against the less than magical Celtics, as they moved on to the Big Dance, after their 13th straight victory. The defending champs basically had no chance, as they were shorthanded from the jump and only had fi ve arrive. The Bullets had 10 and all but one put points on the board as they moved on in easy fashion, behind L. Guertin (20) & C. Mijar (10). Sadly, the Celts went down quickly after one, trailing 21-3, and that was pretty much the level of the game, as the Bullets were on cruise control the rest of the way, basically. The Celtics’ R. Doricent had a good game & fi nished with 14. Game 2 – Lakers 46, Sixers 45 The next game showcased the favored Sixers (+4.5), who “did not” take care of business. The Lakers went out and upset the 2nd place Crimson, en route to a face off against a very familiar opponent as well as the Oldest Rivalry in the MNBL going today. The Sixers needed a little more off ensive output help as just four of their nine got in the scorer’s book, being led by C. Joseph (23) and A. Martino (14). But it was the Lakers MVP candidate S. Warton (19) with the game’s diff erence maker “Free Throws” as he put the proverbial nail in the coffi n from the line, going 3 for 4 in the fi nal frame. And as a team they hit 13 free throws to the Sixers’ 7. Sunday, March 17, at Ferryway Game 1 – Coaches 57, All Stars 54 The not-so-old-timers did it again, as the Coaches’ M. Bailey led the way with 24, C. Washington had 17 and K. Dicks added 10. The players came out seeking revenge, since they hadn’t beaten the Coaches since 2019. The top scorers were the Celtics’ J. Sweeney with 20, the Kings’ A. Brathwaite with 12 and the Pistons’ N. Sullivan with 11 in this close defeat. The Coaches now lead the All-time record: 23-14. As we break before the Big Dance, we highlight our annual “3 point contest.” Again we start with 8 and end with 2. The Bullets’ Clinton Mijar & the Lakers’ Griffi n Leon and The Bullets’ C. Mijar took home the 3-point Title. Championship Game – Bullets 59, Lakers 39 It’s here, it’s Day 1 vs Day 2 – going by the numbers. The Bullets started the game as +16 favorites; they did BASKETBALL | SEE PAGE 16 Alina Dao said, “I appreciate how Coach Dan doesn’t make it entirely about winning the game, he makes it an enjoyable place to be and bond as a team. Although we always wanted to win, some things just didn’t go our way.” Everyone around the school is wishing the Varsity Boys Volleyball Team and Coach Dan Jurkowski another great season! The 2024 season opens for Boys Volleyball on Wednesday, April 3 when Malden hosts Greater Boston League (GBL) rival Somerville at 5:15 p.m. in the Finn Gym at Malden High School. The Junior Varsity Game will be at 4:00 p.m. that day.
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