The playing fields are full of athletes and coaches once again, and this year, four new coaches join our returners.
Danielle Chagnon, a new math teacher and soccer coach, studied math at Bowdoin College, where she played soccer and softball. Ms. Chagnon spent five years coaching soccer and softball at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, MA.
“I loved the experience in a small school community,” Ms. Chagnon reflected. “To me, both teaching and coaching are vehicles with the similar goal of personal character growth. It’s satisfying to try to help other students have an affirming growth experience as well!”
Water polo is a new sport for Assistant Director of Admissions Dave Irwin, who spent the last five years at the Fenn School in Concord, MA. “A lot of the strategies I’ve learned as a basketball coach translate fairly well to the pool,” Mr. Irwin explained.
Miriam Singer, a new math Teaching Fellow and volleyball coach, was a four-year member of the varsity volleyball team and a captain during her senior year at her high school. She played for a Junior Olympic club team and planned on trying out for volleyball at Connecticut College, but ended up rowing for four years instead, missing the volleyball court dearly in the process.
Ms. Singer conveyed her enthusiasm, saying, “I’m most looking forward to being part of a volleyball team again and working with such a motivated group of athletes! I’m also looking to crush Choate!”
Lou Kinder, who graduated from Deerfield in 2005 and went on to row at Berkeley and will coach girls’ varsity rowing, is now an English Teaching Fellow and thirds field hockey coach. “We’ve got a great group of thirds field hockey players this fall. No matter what gets thrown their way, they stay positive and have a good time. I’m looking forward to watching them improve as the season progresses,” she commented.
With such a great group of new coaches, in addition to our fabulous returners, this season is shaping to be a great one for Deerfield athletics.