Alumni Coaches Bring Energy, Perspective to Athletic Program

 

Taariq Allen ’11, Ben Patrick ’11, and A.J. Walsh ’11 have all lent their experience and expertise to the program this fall, swapping their helmet and shoulder pads for a hat and a whistle. All three were key contributors to the football team that claimed an ISL title and a berth in a NEPSAC bowl game at Gillette Stadium in 2010 before continuing their careers at the University of Nebraska, UMass-Amherst, and Williams College, respectively.

 

Walsh signed on over the summer as one of head coach Tom Bourdeau’s assistants and has been working with the offensive and defensive linemen, building off the experience he gained as a four-year letter winner at Williams.

 

“A.J. has a lot on his plate,” said Coach Bourdeau, who is also an Assistant Athletic Director. “It’s his job to make sure they are prepared every week and understand their assignments, whether it's where to be when we blitz on defense or how to impact the running game on offense. He is probably coaching the most kids of any position group and the offensive line, in particular, is arguably the most important position to coach.”

 

Allen and Patrick have primarily been volunteering with Middle School football coach Matt Akers to teach the fundamentals of the game to the next generation of Red Wings, and their presence alone has had a huge impact on that piece of the program.

 

“Those guys bring such a great energy and so much life to the Middle School kids. It’s a lot of fun to play middle school football right now and those guys have a lot to do with that energy.”

 

Football isn’t the only program benefitting from some alumni expertise, however. Jim Navoni ’70, Bruce Taylor ’74, Melissa Dolan ’98, and Lisa Townley ’01 are all veteran members of the sub-varsity and Middle School athletic programs while Eric Anderson ’09 (Babson College) is now in his second season as an assistant with the varsity boys’ soccer team and Andrew Navoni ’09 (Curry College) will begin his third season with the varsity boys’ lacrosse program this spring.

 

Elizabeth Hitti ’12 (University of Pennsylvania) has found her way back to Winter Street as well, helping with the varsity field hockey team – a team which, to continue the family trend, features her sister Julia ’20.

 

“With Taariq and Ben, I think they realized what Rivers did for them and appreciated it a lot more once they were gone. As alums, they want to give back to a community that gave a lot to them,” Coach Bourdeau said. “It's always great to have alumni back because they can relate to what the kids are going through, what teachers they have, what the daily schedule is like, and what is expected of them on a daily basis - they have experience that the rest of us just don’t have and I think that can make a big difference for the players.”