Submitted photo The 2022 PAL Coach of the Year, boys cross country coach Michael Dunhom.

NASHUA – Boys cross country coach Michael Dunhom has been chosen as the Nashua PAL (Police Athletic League) 2022 Coach of the Year.

Dunhom, along with PAL’s athletes of the year in football, basketball, cheerleading, boxing, and boys and girls cross country, as well as youth and adult awardees in coaching, volunteering, and policing, will be honored at the 2022 Night of Champions ceremonies Sept.15 at Nashua’s

Holman Stadium.

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the PAL Night of Champions support PAL’s educational, athletic, and enrichment programs for Nashua’s at-risk youth. They are available at nashuapal.com/events; call 603-594-3733; or email Jen@nashuapal.com.

Dunhom, who lives in Nashua, coaches the Nashua PAL Gate City Striders boys cross country team in the 11-12 year old division. His squad finished second at the USA Track and Field (USATF) New England Championships last fall, advancing to the Region 1 championships, where they were the runner up team.

Covid prevented a trip to the USATF National Championships in Kentucky, although the team qualified for the event. Dunhom has coached several Top-15 team finishers at Nationals, and one Top-10 finisher.

Dunhom started his cross country coaching career as assistant coach at Elm St. Middle School, and soon joined the Nashua PAL Gate City Striders organization as coach of the 9-10 year old team, eventually moving up to the 11-12 year-old squad.

His teams’ regional and national success in Junior Olympic meets has contributed to PAL’s reputation as one of the top programs in the United States. Coaching hundreds of runners over the years, he has established a foundation for producing some of the top cross country and track athletes in the state.

Dunhom also assists fellow PAL-GCS coach Tom Cassetty in his capacity as head coach of the 2021 NHIAA champion Bishop Guertin High School boys cross country team.

Last season Dunhom trained one all-state runner and three all-division runners, all of whom also competed for PAL.

According to PAL Athletic Director Nick Dahl, “Coach Dunhom believes running isn’t just a school sport or youth activity. He sees it as a sport kids can stay with for a long healthy life. He views his job is developing a love of the sport so PAL kids want to continue running for years. He is a firm believer in character over talent and instills those qualities by modeling positive behavior.”

Dunhom, an alumnus of both Nashua High School and the former Daniel Webster College, has worked as an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration for 33 years. He lives in Nashua with his wife Pam and children Alexandra and Drew.

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