Mike Trocki

• Post by: mcalibrary
• January 12, 2024
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INDUCTEE

In the fall of 1988 when Mike was approached by the Mount Carmel Area administration and the athletic office about the head coaching position with the girls/softball team, he was rather hesitant about the task. After conferring with outgoing coach Bruce Wanzie and longtime, legendary assistant coach Ed “Tay” Taylor, he decided to accept the challenge of guiding the MCA Lady Tornadoes. He began his career in 1989 leading the Tornadoes in the always tough Division I of the Schuylkill League. After that first season, Mike and “Tay” re-established the JV program and 2 years later in 1991 had the team in the District XI playoffs, laying the groundwork to what would become a banner year. The 1992 season would prove to be the finest season in the history of the girl’s Softball program. That team moved to its new field at the high school complex and put up numbers and achievements that would have yet to be matched. It would include the team’s first victory over North Schuylkill and a tense 2-1 win over Pottsville that ended the Tide’s 58 game winning streak. The team posted a 14-2 regular season mark and then recorded 4 victories in the District XI tournament, including a 4-3 semi-final win over former state champion Northern Lehigh and a 4-0 district championship win over perennial power Minersville.

Mike would go on to lead the Lady Tornado softball program for 21 years, finally retiring at the conclusion of the 2009 season. He coached over 300 girls during his tenure and traveled to and made many friends against all of the Schuylkill League teams and some new teams in the Heartland Conference.

Trocki was named the Schuylkill League Coach of the Year in 1992 and had 4 of his players named First Team League All-Stars. He was also selected by the news media as the region’s Coach of the Year on 2 occasions and had the honor of seeing his 1992 District XI Championship team honored by the Ed Romance Hall of Fame in 2012.

He is a 1969 grad of Mount Carmel Area and a 1972 grad of Kutztown State College where he earned a BS degree in Secondary Ed with a concentration in languages.

Mike lives in Mount Carmel with his wife Linda. They are the proud parents of three children; Eric, who passed away in July of 2010, Jeff and his wife Nicki, and Stacy, who is married to Greg Fenix. They have 6 grandchildren.

Mike always had a simple coaching philosophy no matter what sport he was coaching – to provide leadership and lend stability. He always wanted his teams to practice hard, play hard, and ultimately to have fun. He always told his players to carry the three D’s with them ti every game: Diligence, Dedication, and Determination, something Mike certainly carried in the way he has lived hi life.