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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
With 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 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 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 first 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 for Jurkowski; however, when he was offered 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 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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