Lafayette College Athletics

Michele Curcio is in her 12th season as the head coach of Lafayette's cross country and track & field programs, after previously spending 14 seasons as an assistant for the program. Curcio, who worked primarily with the throwers, pole vaulters and combined athletes as an assistant, now supervises all aspects of the team in her head coaching role. 

In her tenure, Curcio has coached 42 Patriot League Champions, 38 All-East performers, a two-time ECAC Champion, a three-time Penn Relays Champion, as well as 21 NCAA Regional qualifiers. In addition, Curcio's athletes have set 41 school records and she has coached student-athletes to five berths at the final round of the NCAA Championships.

In her first year as head coach, Curcio helped guide Elise Buffinton '14 to an ECAC Championship in the indoor pole vault. Later on that spring, Rachel Pena '14 concluded her collegiate career by qualifying for the NCAA Regional Championship in the hammer. Lafayette added three Patriot League championships in Curcio's second season, including indoor and outdoor titles in the women's 4x400m relay.

In 2009, Curcio mentored Seamas McGuire '10 to a spot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the javelin. She coached Ashley Harbin '08 to four NCAA Championship meets in the hammer and weight throws. She also guided Harbin (Hammer, 2008) and post collegiate Barry Krammes (Javelin, 2008 & 2012) to berths at the U.S. Olympic Trials. 

In the summer of 2010, Curcio was selected to be part of the coaching staff for the USA Under 23 Team competing at the NACAC Championships. In 2012, Curcio was also selected to be part of the USA Under 20 Team as the Women's Throw Coach at the World Championships. She was the Women's Throw Coach in 2019's "The Match" - U.S.A. vs. The World. Curcio was announced as the USATF Men’s Throws Coach for the 2023 Under 20 Pan American Championship, held from August 4-6 in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Nine of the 12 school records in the Men's and Women's Throws are held by student-athletes coached by Curcio. As a head coach, 11 of the Men's track and field school records and 23 of the Women's track and field records are under the reign of Curcio.

Before arriving on College Hill, Curcio was an assistant at Slippery Rock University. During her three years at The Rock, Curcio coached an All-American thrower, three NCAA Division II National Qualifiers, six conference champions and aided in the development of two All-American decathletes. 

Prior to Slippery Rock, Curcio was an assistant at East Stroudsburg University for four years where she earned her master's degree in Physical Education & Health. Curcio graduated from the University of Delaware in 1991, following a four-year track and field career. A two year captain, she was the East Coast Conference Champion in the 20-pound weight and the hammer throw her senior year. Upon graduation, Curcio continued her career in the hammer, competing on the national level and eventually qualifying for the 1992 Olympic Trials.

Curcio is Level I and Level II Certified by USATF in the throws and jumps as well as being Level 1 certified by USA Weightlifting. She has served as an instructor for the USTFCCCA Coaching Education programs since 2014.

Curcio resides on College Hill in Easton, Pa.



Updated 6/6/25