Athlete/Coach
The Athlete/Coach wing of the Hall of Fame opens with its first
inductee, Mark Starr.
The 1969 AB graduate was a varsity soccer star from 1967 -
1969 as a standout midfielder/striker for Hall of Fame Coach
Dan Boylen's (ab) pitchman. Mark took his fiery competitive
spirit and was one of Larry McNulty's go-to men on the great
teams of the late 1960s. A lanky lefty point guard, Mark was
the Director of the Colonials high scoring DCL Champions and
part of the 88 game winning streak. Mark triggered the 1969
team that made it to the Tech and State tourney finals.
Mark matriculated to UMass and was the starting point guard
on the UMass men's frosh team. Then Mark's volleyball
epiphany appeared and he fell in love with the net. For the
next 20 years, Mark played at the highest level one could play
on the East coast, from Montreal to Ft. Wayne to Delaware.
The coaching bug struck Mark and he chose to give back to
AB. Starting as a JV coach in 2008 and taking over the girls'
program from 2009 to present, Mark has transformed the
program with a 84-43 overall record including tourney runs in
'09, '10, '11, '12, and '14, with Sectional finals in 2011 and
2014.
His love of the game inspired Mark to start the boys' volleyball
team in 2010. The fledgling program has made the State
Tourney in 2011, 2013 and 2014, including the State Semis in
2014. Mark was named Lowell Sun Volleyball Coach of the
Year in 2011 and both the Lowell Sun and Boston Globe V-Ball
Coach of the Year in 2014.
It takes dedication to take the lumps in starting a new program
and the success in such a short time is testimony to Mark Starr,
the coach.
