Arrowhead Cross Country coach Mike Mulrooney was inducted into the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame last Saturday, January 11th in Brookfield.

Each year, two to four coaches enter the association during its annual banquet and clinic. Mulrooney was notified last summer of his nomination by a current member of the WCCCA to become one of the four Wisconsin coaches newly entering the association. Other inductees for 2004 were Scott Anderson of La Crosse Central High School, Don Fritsch of Stevens Point Pacelli High School, and John Wilkie of Phillips High School.

Mulrooney took the position teaching mathematics and coaching boys’ cross country and track at Arrowhead in the fall of 1980. Prior to this, he coached at Pardeeville from 1974 to 1980 after running cross country himself at Prairie du Chien High school and UW-La Crosse. Just recently, in 2001, Mulrooney began to also coach the girls’ program. He has carried the Arrowhead’s Warhawks to two state championships and four second-place state finishes.

Mulrooney doesn’t plan on quitting coaching anytime soon. “I still enjoy it just as much as I ever did. I’m not wearing down, and I still want to do it,” he stated. Mulrooney said that he enjoys teaching self-discipline and strong work ethic to his athletes, as well as helping them develop their characters. He enjoys the “satisfaction of watching them achieve and grow as athletes.” He explained, “In all sincerity, this award is for the school and all the athletes who have taken part in the program.”