Aquinas College

Ernie Mousseau was the “heart and soul” of the Aquinas track and cross country teams for nearly two decades. The
Alpena native came to Aquinas in 1973 from his assistant coaching position at Central Michigan University to the head
coaching position at Aquinas. Mousseau’s squad competed against much larger schools in the state and regional
levels and always fared well. His coaching tenure coincided with the apex of NAIA track and cross country in the state
of Michigan. He sent numerous individuals to the NAIA national meets in cross country and track, with 16 of his
harriers gaining All American status. An outstanding teacher of the field events and in another of specialties, the race
walk, he helped two of his athletes become national champions. (Tom Carr – Hammer Throw and Pat Weiler –
Steeplechase) He aided numerous novices in the Grand Rapids area to learn race walking techniques. Mousseau was
an Alma College graduate where he excelled in football and track. He then went to Central Michigan to earn his
master’s degree. He served as the chair of the physical education department, director of athletics, and athletic faculty
representative as an associate professor in the academic department. Ernie and his wife, Sue, have three sons, Andy
(an All American & Academic All American in track at Aquinas), Jamie and Scott. They now reside outside of Big
Rapids at their year-round home on the Muskegon River.