La u r i e N . Coffey 1995 A new upper in 1993, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Laurie “Mocha” Coffey soon became a leading scorer for girls’ varsity basketball and a varsity rower, leading both teams to New England championships that first year. In just two years, she achieved the second-highest career scoring record in PA basketball history (685 points). Although accepted to various Ivies, Coffey, based on her desire to commit her life to non sibi, decided to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. “Serving others is a big message at Andover,” she told the Phillipian. “I wanted to serve my country.”
National rowing team—as a freshman. After graduation, Coffey was invited to train for the 2000 Olympic basketball team, but a serious Achilles rupture ended that aspiration. Lt. Cmdr. Coffey is trained as an F/A-18 Hornet Fighter Pilot and currently flies with Strike Fighter Squadron 37. She has logged more than 2,000 flight hours, including 100 combat hours on 25 missions in Iraq. In the service, competition—along with a large dose of bravery—has allowed her to progress and improve as a pilot. “I still compete on a daily basis with my peers…. Whether you are landing on an aircraft carrier or shooting a free throw, you have to mentally visualize going through those actions”
A starting forward at Navy, Coffey led the basketball team to the school’s first-ever 30-win season and the Patriot League Championship. She also made the varsity eight—and the U.S.
Ri c h a r d J . Collins Legendary teacher and coach Dick Collins has had a positive impact on generations of youth in the town of Andover and at Phillips Academy. During his PA years, Collins’s athletic prowess was most evident on the gridiron. In his senior year he scored 12 touchdowns in an undefeated seven-game season, which culminated with PA winning the New England prep school championship. He was awarded the Yale Bowl at Commencement.
two straight Massachusetts high school Super Bowls as coach of the Andover High Golden Warriors (and made it to a third), was named National Track and Field Coach of the Year, and is a member of the Massachusetts football and basketball halls of fame. The field house at Andover High School was named for Collins, who recently stepped down after 18 years on the town’s school committee. “Literally thousands of kids have benefited from Dick’s tutelage in the classroom, on the playing fields, and throughout the community,” says Athletics Director Mike Kuta. “He has inspired many to follow the non sibi path—to teach, to coach, to work with children, and to serve the broader community.”
At Dartmouth, Collins continued to excel in football, earned three letters, and was inducted into the Dartmouth Hall of Fame. In 1959, he became a history teacher at Punchard High School in Andover and coached the school’s football and track teams. In the 1970s, he won
1995 basketball team: Coffey is front row, far right.
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1948 football team: Collins is front row, fourth from right.
Andover Athletics Hall
Andover Athletics Hall
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