If you’re a current Endicott student-athlete and balancing school work, internship, practice, and games, you’re probably wondering what your post-graduation life will be like and if all the hard work you’re putting now is going to be worth it. Maybe you’re a prospective student-athlete in high school and thinking about whether Endicott is the right place for you or maybe you’re an alumnus of the College interested to find out what classmates are up to. Whatever your angle is, we’ve got insight into the whereabouts and happenings of some of our favorite Endicott student-athlete alumni.
This week we got in touch with the Coflesky brothers, Mike and Dave, who were members of the Gulls football and volleyball programs in the mid-2000s. While both Mike, an outside hitter from 2003-06, and Dave, a linebacker from 2006-09, had their fair share of athletics highlights over the years but it was their academic studies and internship pursuits that factored into their post-Endicott success. Both brothers are currently state troopers, Mike in Massachusetts and Dave in Maine, and speak highly about their collegiate experiences at Endicott.
On the volleyball court, Mike excelled after a breakout sophomore campaign and despite suffering injury junior year the outside hitter returned for a standout senior season. His 368-kill (3.50 per set) output in 2006 capped off a career that puts him fifth all-time with 860 kills. On the gridiron, Dave was a significant contributor in his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons, playing in 22 of Endicott’s 29 games during that span. He had a season-high 22 tackles in 2007 and in 2008, played in a career-high nine games with 10 tackles, 1.5 TFL, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Mike Coflesky, B.S. in Athletic Training
’06
Sport: Men’s Volleyball, Outside
Hitter
Hometown / High School: Royalston, Mass. /
Athol
Current Employer & Job Title: Massachusetts
State Police / Massachusetts State Trooper
Previous Employer & Job Title: Noble and
Greenough School, Director of Strength & Conditioning
How did your major, classes, professors, and education at Endicott contribute to your post-graduation career?
While at Endicott, I was always interested in the strength and conditioning world and staying active myself. That's what led me to the Noble and Greenough School. I also took a few criminal justice classes in college because I thought that career path was very dynamic and interesting.
What internships did you participate in at Endicott?
As a freshman, I worked at the Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge with the Orthopedic Unit. Sophomore through senior year I worked with the Endicott football program.
How did your internships at Endicott contribute to your post-graduation career?
My internships solidified the fact that I wanted to work in the strength and conditioning field and keep myself in shape as well.
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| Mike hitting one of his six kills against Wentworth in 2006 |
What were some of your most memorable experiences as a student-athlete at Endicott?
Traveling to California as a sophomore and being able to play some great west coast teams as well as the camaraderie that was built with my teammates. I've made friends for life through sports.
Are you still playing your sport either competitively or recreationally? If so, in what capacity?
Yes. I play in old man pick up leagues for both hoops and volleyball.
Do you maintain contact with Endicott or athletic department (i.e. communication with former coach, Alumni Association, Young Alumni)? If so, how are you still involved with Endicott?
Yes, I speak with both Coach Chapell and Coach Byram from time-to-time and have participated as a member of the Endicott Athletics Alumni Council.
Do you have any additional post-graduation accomplishments you would like to highlight?
Post-graduation, I became a licensed athletic trainer certified (LATC) as well as a certified strength and conditioning coach (CSCS). I just recently graduated a rigorous six-month academy and have become a Massachusetts State Trooper, working out of the C-1 barracks in Central Massachusetts.
Do you have any other additional comments about your experience at Endicott?
Endicott exposed me to a variety of experiences through the courses that I was enrolled in as well as the internship process. It was great to get a taste of both the sports and criminal justice fields, which made me realize that I could pursue both avenues.
Dave Coflesky, B.S. in Criminal Justice ‘10
Sport: Football, Linebacker
Hometown / High School: Royalston, Mass. /
Athol
Current Employer & Job Title: Maine State Police /
Maine State Trooper
How did your major, classes, professors, and education at Endicott contribute to your post-graduation career?
The education I received at Endicott set me up for success in my career as a Maine State Trooper. I commonly work with the District Attorney’s Office or a Federal Law Enforcement Agency on a daily basis. The things I learned at Endicott have helped me with making good first impressions as well as being able to complete investigations in a thorough and timely manner. I specifically would like to thank Professor David Parry for the guidance he gave me while at Endicott which truly prepared me for the real world of law enforcement.
What internships did you participate in at Endicott?
I completed internships with the Massachusetts State Police and I completed a semester long internship at the Salem Police Department in the Criminal Investigations Division.
How did your internships at Endicott contribute to your post-graduation career?
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| Dave (left) taking the field before Endicott's 34-21 win over Western New England in 2007 |
My internships greatly contributed to the success I've had in my career. I still use many of the skills and techniques that I learned while on internship everyday on the road, whether it be an interdiction stop or criminal investigation. Time in the classroom is obviously necessary but it was the skills I learned while on internship that have truly helped me in the law enforcement field.
What were some of your most memorable experiences as a student-athlete at Endicott?
Some of my most memorable experiences as a student-athlete at Endicott, other than the wins and losses, involved my teammates and coaches. During my four years as a member of the football team, our program experienced some ups and downs. We laid the groundwork for becoming one of the dominant teams in the league. It was the down years that motivated us to change and the losses that we suffered both on and off the field that taught us as young men what it meant to win in football and life.
Are you still playing your sport either competitively or recreationally? If so, in what capacity?
Yes. I play recreationally and I also coach several levels of youth football in the Southern Maine area.
Do you maintain contact with Endicott or athletic department (i.e. communication with former coach, Alumni Association, Young Alumni)? If so, how are you still involved with Endicott?
Yes, Coach Wells and I still talk every year before preseason camp starts.
Do you have any additional post-graduation accomplishments you would like to highlight?
I am a current member of the Maine State Police Tactical Team.
Do you have any other additional comments about your experience at Endicott?
Endicott College will always have a place in my heart as I learned many valuable lessons there. While at Endicott I learned how to network, how to treat people, and how not to treat people. I also learned that to succeed it takes hard work and anything worth having is worth working for. The lessons I learned about life while at Endicott are priceless and are something that I will always have with me.
"Ain't it great to be a Gull!"
