Curtin joined Emory University as track and field coach at the start of the 1985-86 school year. His belief in individualized training programs has resulted in athletic and academic success for his student-athletes within a team concept.

In 2012, Curtin was named the South/ Southeast Women's Outdoor Coach of the Year for the second time in his career, and the UAA Outdoor Coach of the Year for the third year in a row. He led the women's squad to the UAA Outdoor Championship, the 10th UAA Title claimed by the Emory women, and 19 overall between the men's and women's squads.  Four of Emory's athletes qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships during the year, and an additional eight qualified for the NCAA Outdoor meet, with the Eagles claiming all-America honors in the women's indoor high jump, and the women's outdoor 400m and 1600m relays.  

From 2010-11, Curtin helped lead the Emory women to three-straight UAA Championships, two during the outdoor season (2010 and 2011) and one during the indoor campaign (2011).  Curtin was named the South/Southeast Women's Indoor Coach of the year in 2011.  In 2010, Curtin oversaw all-American performances from three different athletes, coached two team members to South/Southeast Region Indoor Performer of the Year honors and two UAA Most Outstanding Performer honors.

In 2009 season Curtin helped lead the Emory men's track and field team to the UAA Indoor Track and Field Championship, and coached members of the women's team to all-America finishes in the indoor long jump and the outdoor 4x100-meter relay.  Curtin was named the region's Coach of the Year in 2009.  During the 2008 season, Curtin saw his team members combine for 14 all-America certificates between the indoor and outdoor seasons.  His men's outdoor track and field team in 2008, which totaled eight all-America honors, finished seventh in the nation, the best finish in the program's history.

Curtin also oversaw a 10th-place finish by the Emory men's team at the 2004 NCAA Division III national outdoor championships. On the women's side, Curtin coached four All-America performances by Emory athletes at the 2002 NCAA Division III national outdoor championships, including two national champions (steeplechase and hammer). The women's team finished ninth, the best finish in school history, at the NCAA championships.

Other career highlights include three All-America performances by Emory athletes at the 2001 NCAA Division III national outdoor championships, including a national hammer throw champion; an All-America javelin thrower in 2000; eight All-America performances by Emory athletes at the 1997 NCAA outdoor championships; a national triple jump champion in 1995; and a school-record five All-Americans at the 1994 NCAA outdoor championships. That same year, Curtin was honored as the region's Coach of the Year.

In his 26 years at Emory, Curtin's track and field athletes have amassed four individual National Championships, 87 All-America certificates, 39 conference Most Valuable Performer awards, and 415 conference event championships.

Curtin was selected the region Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track Coaches Association for the 1994 outdoor season, 2003 indoor season (men), 2003 outdoor season (men), the 2004 outdoor season (men), the 2009 outdoor season (women), the 2010 indoor season (women), the 2011 indoor season (women) and the 2012 outdoor season (women).

Eighteen times, he and his assistants have been honored by the University Athletic Association as its track and field "Coaching Staff of the Year," most recently during the 2012 women's outdoor season.

Prior to Emory, Curtin was the head men's cross country and track and field coach at Simpson College (Iowa) from 1979-85. He also coached the Simpson women's cross country and track teams for two years. In 1995, Curtin was inducted into Simpson's Sports Hall of Fame.