On Monday, Thomas Jefferson school district and Greater Pittsburgh soccer community learned the news that longtime High School boys soccer head coach Michael ‘Doc’ Kulish passed away this weekend.
Kulish was the boys head soccer coach for over three decades at Thomas Jefferson, from 1993 right up through this season.
Pittsburgh Soccer Now’s Ed Thompson, whose sons played soccer at Thomas Jefferson expressed his fondness for Kulish.
“He was good to my boys and my family.”
Here’s what was posted on Thomas Jefferson Soccer Boosters Facebook and Instagram on Monday.
It is with very heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved Doc Kulish.
For over 30 years, Doc dedicated himself to coaching and to the countless young men who came through the TJ Boys Soccer program. He was so much more than a familiar face on the sidelines. He was a special part of our TJ Soccer family, and his presence, kindness, and support meant so much to generations of players, coaches, and families.
Our hearts are with Coach Mike, Helen, and the entire Kulish family during this incredibly difficult time. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers in the days ahead.
As arrangements and additional details are shared with us, we will be sure to update our TJ Soccer family.
Doc will be deeply missed, but the impact he made on our players and our program over the years will never be forgotten.
Rest easy, Doc.
In over three decades of coaching at Thomas Jefferson, Kulish amassed a 465W-192L-41D career coaching record heading into this season.
Under Kulish’s direction, the Jaguars won the PIAA title in 2002, with a team that he said “the best in school history, and also, probably one of the best teams in WPIAL history.”
In total, Kulish’s Thomas Jefferson teams appeared in three straight PIAA (then Class 2A) Championship games, won three District (WPIAL) championships (2001, 2002 and 2004) and countless other Section titles. The 2001 and 2002 squads included current George Mason Head Coach and former Riverhounds / University of Virginia standout Rich Costanza. The 2002 squad finished 27-1 overall and ended the year on a 26-game winning streak to become the first team in school history to win a PIAA title.
In one of his first coaching jobs, Kulish, who is a Thomas Jefferson and Pitt alumnus, coached at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.
When looking back at his accomplishments and years of coaching, Kulish told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2021, it always came back to the relationships he built.
“I’ll remember all the guys that I’ve coached over the years and all the calls I still get and the letters. Just from winning this section title — now it’s no letters, it’s all texts. I must have 15 or 20 texts. It’s just amazing. The people really showed their gratitude. There’s a lot of people who still appreciate the kind of coach I am.”
Michael ‘Doc’ Kulish celebrates with players and coaches after winning his 400th match at Thomas Jefferson in October 2021 (photo courtesy Thomas Jefferson Boys Soccer)
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