JOHN KURTY
WESTFIELD – Legendary Westfield State soccer coach John Kurty is one of six new inductees to the New England Soccer Hall of Fame.
The class of 2014 includes former Boston Astros owner/executive John Bertos, longtime LASA striker Matteo Giarrusso, former ASL and LASA striker Mark Gilchrist, Ludlow and Westfield State coaching legend John Kurty, former New England Revolution assistant coach and England International Paul Mariner, and U.S. Soccer Federation Manager of Identification and Training Dr. Herb Silva.
Reunion of the 1974 Westfield Men’s Soccer Final Four Team – John Kurty, fourth from left with trophy. (Photo courtesy of Westfield State Sports)
The 2014 class will be honored during the Hall’s 37th Annual Induction Ceremony on Sunday, November 23, 2013 at the Ramada Seekonk in Seekonk, Mass. Doors will open at 12:30pm, and the ceremony will start at 1:00pm.
Information about the induction dinner, which is open to the public, is available at nesoccerhall.com or by contacting Chairman of the Board Joseph Sousa at [email protected]. ***Due to limited seating, guests are strongly encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance. ***
Kurty was a legendary soccer coach, first with the Ludlow public schools and later at Westfield State College (now Westfield State University).
Kurty was soccer coach at Ludlow High School, where he had a record of 150 wins, 19 losses and 19 ties over 10 years. His team won three consecutive state titles.
After leading Ludlow High School to years of success, he assumed the coaching post at Westfield State in 1966. He compiled a record of 153 wins, 36 losses and 13 ties. He also served as a physical education professor at Westfield State.
John Kurty coaching at Westfield in the early 1970s. (Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports)
He was the first coach inducted into the Westfield State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of the charter class. At the time of his retirement, his .790 winning percentage was the highest of any coach, active or retired, in all New England divisions. John led the Owls to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and three New England state championships. Coach Kurty’s 1974 team finished third in the nation.
He also coached volleyball and was an assistant coach for the baseball team.
He was named to the Ludlow High School Sports Hall of Fame, both as a player and as a coach, in 2007. He passed away in 2012.
The Hall includes many nationally recognized names; past inductees include former US Soccer secretary general Hank Steinbrecher; US women’s national team coach Tony Dicicco; former UConn coach Joe Morrone; Sunil Gulati, president of US Soccer, New England Patriots and Revolution owner Robert Kraft, and referee David Socha of Ludlow, Mass.
