Unsung Heroes: The Devotion of Pingry’s Assistant Coaches They are models of a country day school philosophy, in which faculty members, fully integrating themselves into the fabric of a school, also serve as coaches. Indeed, assistant coaches inspire students inside the classroom and out. But unlike head coaches, they often work outside of the limelight, devoting long hours after the school day has ended to helping studentathletes achieve their goals. Here, we introduce you to three of Pingry’s fine assistant coaches, placing them, very purposefully, in the spotlight.
Davidson Barr, Upper School geometry and economics Assistant Coach, Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Fencing Teams, since 2012 A mathematics and economics major at Northwestern University, Mr. Barr played on the school’s competitive club team. He served as president and captain of Northwestern’s fencing club, and, in 2009, his senior year, led its épée squad to a Collegiate Club National Championship.
Julie Coxe, Upper School algebra, geometry, trigonometry Assistant Coach, Boys’ and Girls’ Varsity Ski Teams, since 2013 Ms. Coxe arrived at Pingry four years ago, having received two master’s degrees, the first in Mathematical Physics from Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand, and the second in Teaching from the University of Delaware. As an undergraduate at James Madison University, she majored in math. Her prior skiing experience? None.
Graham Touhey, chemistry Assistant Coach, Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team, since 2013 In 2013, Mr. Touhey was fresh out of Lehigh University, with a degree in Chemistry, when he arrived at Pingry. For two years prior, he served as assistant coach of his high school’s successful basketball team in Easton, Pennsylvania (he was All-Area First Team his senior year). The experience was a turning point for him—he says that 62
THE PINGRY REVIEW
the potential to continue coaching was a big factor in his decision to pursue teaching.
Julie Coxe, Davidson Barr, and Graham Touhey in the Miller A. Bugliari ’52 Athletics Center.
Do you see your roles as teacher and coach complementary? If so, how?
contact, since the Head Coach [Christine Larsen] lives near Mountain Creek [Ski Resort]. But the rapport that I develop with the kids on the mountain I definitely bring back to Pingry, and into the classroom.
Mr. Barr: Fencing is really a problemsolving game, developing skills to find out where you can take ground on your opponent. As a geometry teacher, this is the same set of skills that I’m trying to communicate to my students—finding your way to a solution. So, fencing aligns well with my teaching. When you’re out there on the strip, you have to figure out your opponent and problem-solve; that’s the only way to make it through a match. In a geometry class, we might practice problem-solving differently, but it’s still the same skillset. Ms. Coxe: For me, coaching and teaching are distinct roles. When I started at Pingry, [then-Director of Athletics] Gerry Vanasse asked for a volunteer to serve as assistant coach of the ski team. I said, “why not?” Much of what I do as an assistant ski coach is administrative and organizational—are the kids on the bus in time? Are they spending time in the weight room? I’m the on-site Pingry
Mr. Touhey: Coaching only enhances my teaching experience and my interactions with students. It’s great to see the players I coach in the classroom, and I think it’s great for them to see me teaching, too. It’s not all about basketball. Even the kids I don’t necessarily coach call me “coach.” “But I’m not your coach,” I tell them. And they respond, “But you coach me in science.” These kids see me on the court and know me as a coach as well as a teacher, and I think that helps them to relate to me. Both the coaching and teaching platforms help me to read and understand kids better.
How does the role of assistant coach compare to that of head coach? Ms. Coxe: Because the head coach lives near the mountain and I’m the