At the recent Minnesota State High School Cross Country Coaches Clinic held at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, former St. Michael-Albertville teacher, athletic director, track and field coach, and cross country coach, Mike Beck, was inducted into the Minnesota Cross Country Coaches Association “Hall-of-Fame”.
Beck was the head cross country coach at St. Michael-Albertville for 27 seasons, before retiring from that position in the fall 2004. He began his coaching at STMA in 1978 and also taught social studies, then became the athletic director and was in that position at STMA for 26 years, before retiring from his duties at STMA High School in 2011.
His success at STMA as a cross country coach was exceptionally successful, qualifying 10 teams for the State Meet and coaching numerous individuals that qualified for the State Meet. While at STMA, he led nine boys cross country teams to the State Meet and one girls team(1998). His 1998 boys team placed 2nd in the State Class “A” Cross Country Meet, while his other State Meet boys teams placed as follows: (1993-4th Class “A”), (1994-5th Class “A”), (1997-6th Class “A”), (1983-6th Class “A”), (1981-7th Class “A”), (1980-8th Class “A”), (1982-9th Class “A”), and his 1999 boys team placed 11th at State in STMA’s first year in Class “AA.”
Beck’s boys team captured 12 Conference titles in his tenure at STMA and in 1996, he was named Minnesota Boys Cross Country State High School “Coach of the Year”.
Regarding his recent honor, Mike Beck commented, “It was just fantastic to be able to teach, coach, and be athletic director in our school district at STMA. It was a special group of athletes, parents, teachers, coaches, and adminstrators that I was privileged to work with, here at STMA and I’m extremely thankful for their help and support over the years.”
Although Beck is retired, he is still active in working with the Minnesota Coaches’ Association in the business end of the organization and works closely with the Minnesota State High School League, as well. He also spends time working as a starter and meet official for both track and cross country events around the area.