Coaching CONTACTS
Interested candidates may reach out to AD, Ryan Madden, ryan_madden@needham.k12.ma.us.
All positions require a resume and cover letter or statement of interest.
All applications will need to be submitted via TalentEd.
Embedded Files
2026 Fall
2026 Fall
Girls Assistant Cross Country Coach
Girls Diving Coach
JV/Club Dance Coach
2026-27 Winter
2026-27 Winter
Boys/Girls Alpine Ski Assistant Coach
JV/Club Dance Coach
2027 Spring
2027 Spring
Girls Outdoor Track Coach
Meet the AThletic Department
Meet the AThletic Department
Director of Athletics
Director of Athletics
Ryan Madden
Ryan Madden
COMING SOON
Assistant Athletic Director/ COordinator of Club Sports
Assistant Athletic Director/ COordinator of Club Sports
Bella Tersoni
Bella Tersoni
COMING SOON
Brett Stinchfield earned his B.S. in Sport Management from UMass Amherst in 2015 and his M.Ed. in Athletic Administration from Endicott College in 2020. While at UMass, he served as a student manager for the men’s basketball and football programs and completed internships with Needham High School, the New England Revolution, ESPN, and the Cape Cod Baseball League. After graduating, he spent six years as the Director of Basketball at Starland Sportsplex in Hanover.
His coaching experience includes positions at Plymouth South High School (2016–17), Marshfield High School (2017–22), Fisher College (2022–23), and Canton High School (2023–25). In addition to his work in Needham, he serves as the South Shore Regional Director for the Middlesex Magic and operates his own camp and clinic company, Laced Up Lab.
Head Athletic Trainer
Head Athletic Trainer
Sam Franke
Sam Franke
COMING SOON
Middle School Athletics Liason
Middle School Athletics Liason
Nicole Piatelli
Nicole Piatelli
COMING SOON
Meet our Varsity FALL Coaches
Meet our Varsity FALL Coaches
Girls Varsity Volleyball
Girls Varsity Volleyball
Courtney Todesco
Courtney Todesco
Courtney Todesco in her 13th season as the Head Coach of Needham High School's Girls Volleyball team. Her other coaching positions have included: assisting the Needham boys volleyball team, assisting the girls and boys volleyball teams at Newton South High School and serving as the MIT Men's volleyball team assistant coach.
In her Needham coaching tenure so far, she has amassed a 179 - 58 record, led the team to two state titles - 2019 (first state title in school history) and 2021(MIAA sportsmanship award winners as well), multiple final four appearances, and several league titles. Some of her personal awards include: 2019 Boston Globe Coach of the Year, 2019 MIAA Coach of the Year, 2020 Positive Coaching Alliance Double Goal Coach - Regional Winner (only 100 coaches selected in the nation), and 2020 AVCA 30 Under 30 Coach Award Winner.
Prior to her coaching career, she played volleyball for four years at Trinity College (CT) where she led the team in blocks. She was a two sport varsity athlete and captain at Newton South High School. And, she played for SMASH volleyball club. Outside of coaching, Courtney is currently in her 9th year as a wellness teacher at Pollard Middle School in Needham.
Varsity Field Hockey
Varsity Field Hockey
Tessa Taylor
Tessa Taylor
Coach Tessa was hired in 2025 as the Head Coach for Needham High School Girls varsity field hockey. She comes back to the district after two years of coaching the Pollard Middle School program with a one year stint as assistant coach for Buckingham, Brown & Nichols high school varsity field hockey in 2024. Tessa also coaches for the Nexus program which is the pathway for team USA. She holds a Level 1 coaching certificate from USA Field Hockey. Tessa was a Division 1 athlete playing for Radford University and was 1st team all Nor-Pac Conference her senior season.
In addition to coaching, Tessa plays for the USA Masters where she has gone on two tours so far; one in 2024 for the PanAmerican Games in Argentina and the other in 2025 for the World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.
Tessa is also the Assistant Director of Needham Youth Field Hockey and is a consultant for Victory Sports Tours.
Varsity Football
Varsity Football
Doug Kopcso
Doug Kopcso
Doug Kopcso is heading into his 9th season as the Head Coach of Needham High School's Football team. For 23 years he has coached football and countless NHS athletes in his offseason strength and conditioning program, Triple S. He also served an assistant coach for the NHS wrestling team for one year and an assistant with the linebackers at Bentley University during their undefeated 2003 season.
He has guided the program to the two most successful records in program history in 2023 and 2024, the latter included an undefeated regular season and Super Bowl appearance. He was also the defensive coordinator during the team's first Super Bowl berth in 2011. In 2023, he was awarded the Boston Globe Coach of the Year and Patriots Coach of the Week. In 2024, he was presented with the Patriots COTY, BSC COTY, and the Recruiting Board COTY awards. He is very proud of his team's 2025 MIAA Sportsmanship Award.
Prior to his coaching career, he captained Babson College Rugby to two consecutive undefeated seasons in Division 2 play. His team was subsequently elected to the BURC Hall of Fame. As a student at NHS, he was a two sport captain, outdoor track and football, and a starter on the varsity lacrosse team during his sophomore year. Outside of coaching, Doug will enter his 21st year teaching English at Needham High School.
Boys Varsity Golf
Boys Varsity Golf
Adam Cole
Adam Cole
Coach Cole has led the Needham High School Boys’ Varsity Golf Team since 2010. Under his leadership, the Rockets have been a perennial contender in the Bay State Conference, finishing as South Sectional Runner-Up in 2013 and qualifying for the MIAA Team State Tournament three times. During his tenure, standout player Jake Shuman captured back-to-back Division I State Championships in 2012 and 2013, and the program earned an MIAA Sportsmanship Award in 2017.
Outside of coaching, Adam teaches personal finance and statistics at Needham High School and runs a financial advising business focused on college financing. He continues to compete in triathlons, road races, and swimming events as well as play golf with his two boys.
Girls Varsity Swim/Dive
Girls Varsity Swim/Dive
Kate Curtin
Kate Curtin
Kate Curtin is entering her third season as Head Coach of the Needham High School Girls Varsity Swim & Dive team after serving as the program's assistant coach for two seasons. A 2009 Needham High School graduate and former team captain, Coach Curtin has played an integral role in one of the most successful eras in program history. During her tenure on the coaching staff (2021–present), the Rockets have consistently competed among the top programs in Massachusetts, earning Bay State Conference championships, South Sectional success, and statewide recognition. In her first season as head coach in 2023, she guided Needham to its first-ever MIAA Division 1 State Championship, earning her recognition across the state as Mary Pierce Fall Girls Coach of the Year in 2024 and the Boston Globe Fall Coach of the Year in 2024.
Coach Curtin has been a dedicated member of the Needham swimming community for more than 15 years as Head Coach of the Needham Sharks Summer Swim Team, where she has helped develop generations of swimmers and foster strong team relationships. She has also served as Head Coach of the Westwood High School (2016-2019) and Norwood High School (2016-2025) varsity swim and dive teams, mentoring league champions, state qualifiers, and school record holders. Her experience coaching athletes from youth swimming through the high school level has shaped her athlete-centered approach, emphasizing long-term development, leadership, and a lifelong love of the sport.
Outside of coaching, Coach Curtin teaches social studies at Norwood High School. She earned her bachelor's degree in History and Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and her master's degree in Social Studies Education from Boston University. As both a Needham alumna and coach, she is proud to continue the tradition of excellence that shaped her own experience, striving to help every student-athlete grow as a competitor, teammate, and leader.
Girls VarsIty Cross Country
Girls VarsIty Cross Country
Sue McNATT
Sue McNATT
This is Sue's fourth season as Needham High School Girls Head Cross Country Coach. Her teams have earned runner up Bay State Conference Champion honors for the last three years. In 2024, the team won the Division 1A championships and placed 5th at the All State meet. In 2025, the team went undefeated in Bay State Conference dual meets. Sue was named BSC XC Coach of the year in 2024.
Sue started coaching for the Needham Public Schools in 2014. She coached the Middle School Cross Country and Track teams for three years. In 2017, she started coaching at the high school level as an Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach.
As a high school athlete, she was runner up at the Wisconsin State Cross Country Championships. She was a two time High School Foot Locker National qualifier and two time All-American. Sue competed at Division 1 Northwestern University in Cross County and Track and Field. She competed in the 1985 NCAA Cross Country National Championships.
Outside of coaching, Sue works as a physical therapist and continues to run in road and cross country races and loves spending time with her three adult children and two cats.
Boys VarsIty Cross Country
Boys VarsIty Cross Country
RYAN MARTIN
RYAN MARTIN
Ryan Martin joined the Needham High School coaching staff in 2026 after competing at the University of Vermont, where he ran cross country and track and graduated in 2024. A 2020 graduate of Norwell High School, he ran both sports there as well and continues to train and race competitively.
Outside of coaching, Ryan is the web developer for The Run House, a running specialty retailer.
Girls Varsity Soccer
Girls Varsity Soccer
Todd White
Todd White
Todd is currently in his third year as the Head Coach of the Needham High School Girls Varsity Soccer Team. Prior to coaching at Needham High School, Todd coached Boys varsity high school soccer in New York City, Men's varsity collegiate soccer in Tennessee, Women's varsity collegiate soccer in Tennessee, and he was the Tennessee Olympic Development Regional coach. For thirty-nine years, he and two close friends ran and operated a competitive high school girls residential overnight soccer camp.
When not on the pitch, Todd practiced law for thirty-two years, but he is and always will be a Rocket.
Boys Varsity Soccer
Boys Varsity Soccer
Jimmy Odierna
Jimmy Odierna
Jimmy Odierna - known typically as Coach O - is starting his 12th season as the Head Coach of the NHS Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team. Coach O coached the 9th grade team for 8 years (2004-2006, 2010-2014) prior to taking over the Varsity job from Legendary Coach Don Brock. In 2012 and 2014, Coach O assisted the program in securing Div 1 State Championships both years.
Starting in Coach O’s first year the Boys Soccer program won 8 straight Bay State Conference Division Championships. Combine those with the 4 years before under Brock and the Needham Rockets won a record 12 straight league titles from 2011 to 2023. Under Coach O’s guidance, the team appeared in 3 out of 4 State Championships games in 2019, 2022, and 2023 but fell short of the title each time. In 2019 the team earned a #1 ranking in the South Region, Eastern Mass Division 1 Champions, and Coach O was rewarded with the Boston Globe Boys Division 1 Coach of the Year. In 2021, the team had an undefeated regular season, #2 ranking in the MIAA Division 1 tournament, and earned the MIAA Division 1 Boys Soccer Sportsmanship Award. In 2022, the team was again #1 ranked in the MIAA Division 1 tournament on their way to the Finals and Coach O earned the EMSCA Coach of the Year and the "United Soccer Coaches" Massachusetts Coach of the Year honors. In 2023, the team earned the #2 seed in the tournament on their way to the title game for the third time in four tournaments. Coach O has had the honor of coaching 3 players who have earned All America accolades, 1 All-New England Player, and 6 Bay State Conference MVPs!
After 21 years of teaching Math and Interdisciplinary Learning at Needham High School, Mr. O is now in his second year as Assistant Principal at the High Rock Middle School in Needham.
Unified Basketball
Unified Basketball
TBD
TBD
COMING SOON
Sailing
Sailing
Alex Boni
Alex Boni
Alex is an alumnus of Needham High School and the Sailing Team, where he was an eight season athlete. He took over the sailing program in 2025 after returning to Needham once his college studies concluded at the University of Vermont. At UVM Alex was also an eight season sailor and team leader, where he led the fundraising strategy and raised over $100,000 during his tenure. He brings over eight years of summer instructional experience from Marblehead, Vermont, and South Jersey. He holds a US Sailing Level 2 Instructor certification and is SafeSport certified. His resume includes competing in the 2021 Chubb US Junior Championship, the 2021 C420 National Championship, the 2023 J70 US Youth Championship, the 2025 WSRS in Marblehead, sailing on the A level circuit at the collegiate level, and local racing throughout the east coast on numerous dinghies and keelboats. He looks forward to growing the team in size and experience as his tenure continues!
Outside of sailing, Alex works in the Engineering Division of the Needham DPW. He enjoys following the Patriots and Red Sox, skiing, and reading about urban and environmental planning.
VaRsity Dance
VaRsity Dance
Jessica Arruda
Jessica Arruda
Jessica is an alum of Needham High School, and the Dance Team, she graduated in 2008. She started with the Rockets after earning a B.A. in dance at one of the Boston area’s most respected dance programs, Dean College in 2012. Coach Arruda founded the JV Dance Team program after graduating college in 2013, and took over the Varsity program in 2019. With a vivacious personality and excellent training, Jessica is a natural leader. Coach Arruda is the Assistant Director at a local dance studio, Needham Dance Theatre. She also teaches Barre Method fitness classes and is Acro Arts Certified. She is also a proud mom of son, Theo, who arrived in October 2024.
VaRsity Cheerleading
VaRsity Cheerleading
Anna Montoya
Anna Montoya
Coach Anna Montoya entered her fourth season with the Needham High School Cheerleading program this fall. Before joining NHS, she and served as the assistant coach for Brookline High School's Varsity Cheerleading team as well as their JV coach. Since taking on a leadership role at NHS, Coach Anna has guided the team to three consecutive Regional appearances and a State Championship appearance in the winter season.
Outside of cheerleading, Coach Anna works as a Kindergarten Paraprofessional, where her positivity and love for teaching young learners shine through—qualities that also influence her coaching style. In her free time, she enjoys privately coaching tumbling, helping athletes refine their skills and gain confidence in their technique.
Meet our Varsity WINTER Coaches
Meet our Varsity WINTER Coaches
Girls Varsity Ice Hockey
Girls Varsity Ice Hockey
Mike Jewkes
Mike Jewkes
Mike joined Needham High School as the Head Coach of the Girls’ Varsity Ice Hockey Team in 2025. He has coached with the Boston Junior Eagles, one of the premier girls club hockey programs in the US, for many years. Mike has been a head coach of Jr. Eagles teams from the pre-U8 Girls Development level through U16. In his time with the Eagles, he has served as coach of three consecutive Massachusetts Hockey State Champions and two USA Hockey Nationals qualifiers. Additionally, he has coached in varying capacities for Needham Youth Hockey at every level of the girls program from learn to skate through U18.
Away from the rink, Mike is a financial services attorney who enjoys spending time by the ocean in the off season. He lives in Needham with his wife, Meghan, and their two daughters.
Boys Varsity Ice Hockey
Boys Varsity Ice Hockey
Mike Hoban
Mike Hoban
Coach Hoban is entering his 12th season as the Head Coach of the NHS Boys' Ice Hockey team and his 14th season overall. Led the Rockets to Bay State Herget titles in 2019 and 2024. Prior to coaching at Needham, Coach Hoban played professionally with the Fort Wayne Komets in the ECHL. Graduated from Babson College in 2012 where he was a four year student-athlete captaining the team and earning all-conference his senior season and a league Championship his freshman year. A 2008 graduate from St. Sebastian's where he was a member of the varsity ice hockey and soccer teams for four years and captain of both teams his senior year.
Outside of coaching, Coach Hoban is an Asset Manager with Equity Industrial Partners in Needham, MA and a husband and father to three boys.
Boys Varsity Basketball
Boys Varsity Basketball
Paul Liner
Paul Liner
Paul is currently in his eighteen year of coaching the boys varsity basketball program. He started his coaching career in Needham in 1999 as the freshman coach and later became the junior varsity coach before accepting the varsity position in the fall of 2008. In 2023, Paul and his staff guided the Rockets to the first state finals appearance in school history. The team also made the MIAA tournament final four in 2017. The “we over me” and “next play” pillars of the program helped fuel the Rockets to seven straight BSC league championships from 2017-2024. In 2016 and 2023 Paul was named the Massachusetts Basketball Coaches Association Division One Coach of the Year. Additionally, Paul was named Boston Globe Division One Coach of the Year in 2023.
Outside of coaching Paul is a sixth grade math teacher at the High Rock School in Needham.
Girls Varsity Basketball
Girls Varsity Basketball
Lindsay Miller
Lindsay Miller
Lindsay is currently in her first season as the Head Coach of the Needham High School Girls' Varsity Basketball team. She joined the Rockets after 2 seasons as Head Coach at the Rivers School and 5 seasons as an Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Harvard University. Harvard competed in the postseason each year Lindsay was on staff, including two 20+ win seasons. Through her collegiate coaching experience, Lindsay has coached 17 All-Ivy players, 2 WNBA players, 1 Olympian, and 7 professional players. Lindsay also has spent 10 years running Hallion Hoop Academy - a program that focuses jointly on basketball and mental skills training.
Prior to coaching Lindsay was a 2-time state champion at Westwood High School where she remains the school's all-time leading scorer and was part of a 71-game winning streak. She went on to play at Harvard where she was a point guard on 3 Ivy Championship teams, competed in the NCAA tournament, and was recognized as a 2-time All-Ivy player, a 2-time recipient of the Harvard Pride Award, a member of the ESPN Academic All-District Team, and as a nominee for the Harvard Women's Leadership Award. After college she played professionally in Waterford City, Ireland.
Outside of coaching Lindsay works as a mental health counselor and a mental performance coach.
Varsity Wrestling
Varsity Wrestling
TBD
TBD
Varsity Alpine Ski
Varsity Alpine Ski
Tom Guarente
Tom Guarente
Tom is currently in his 15th season coaching ski racing. He joined the Rockets in 2011 and spent four years as the Assistant Coach and then became the Head Coach at Natick High School Ski Team for two seasons. Tom returned to Needham High School in 2017 as the Head Coach of the Girls and Boys Varsity and JV Alpine Ski Teams. This past season, the team enjoyed their most successful season with multiple podium finishes in individual and team results, the Girls Team winning the Ski East championship, and the Boys Team state championship qualifiers placing 3rd overall.
Tom has also been a parent volunteer for Natick’s Youth Football, Youth Soccer, and Youth baseball programs, and is currently a volunteer with the Natick High School Varsity Football Team. In addition to coaching, Tom is a Teaching Coordinator at the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services in Framingham.
Tom grew up in Weston MA where he played football and baseball at Weston High School. He also competed in ski racing and freestyle at Waterville Valley NH with the BBTS program. He received his bachelor’s degree at Boston University and a Master’s Degree in Education at Framingham State University.
Tom lives in Natick with his wife Andrea and son Ben, who is a three sport student-athlete at Natick High School.
Boys Varsity Swim/ DIve
Boys Varsity Swim/ DIve
ADAM Cole
ADAM Cole
Coach Cole began swimming competitively as a freshman at Needham High School, where he served as team captain his senior year, before continuing his career at Williams College as a sprint freestyler. He holds a Level 2 certification from the American Swimming Coaches Association and has been the Head Coach of the Needham High School Boys’ Swimming & Diving Team since 2005. Under his leadership, the Rockets have improved from an 0–15 start to multiple conference championships and three team sectional titles, with every school record broken during his tenure. The team was honored with the MIAA Sportsmanship Award in 2017.
Coach Cole was recognized as both the EMISCA Coach of the Year and MIAA Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year in 2018, and in 2019 he was named the NFHS Coach of the Year for Swimming for the Northeast Region.
Outside of coaching, Adam teaches personal finance and statistics at Needham High School and runs a financial advising business focused on college financing. He continues to compete in triathlons, road races, and swimming events.
VArsity Gymnastics
VArsity Gymnastics
ABBY Watt
ABBY Watt
This will be Coach Abby Watt's 30th season coaching Needham High School Gymnastics. She began gymnastics in High School in NH, and has been dancing from the age of 4. During her last two years of High School, she danced at Dartmouth College, leaving for a professional dance school in London England right after graduating. She trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance for 4 years, including performing in a Royal Celebration. During those years she became interested in movement therapy and worked on various Government sponsored programs with special needs patients and 3 years with Autistic youth, using movement and dance.
After 10 years in England, marrying and having two sons, she returned to the US and became involved with the YMCA teaching dance and movement classes for all ages; coaching soccer; running the Needham Soccer Club Memorial Day Tournament and becoming the first female President of the Needham Soccer Club. She taught at the Pollard Middle School for 20 years. In 1995, she began coaching the Gymnastics team. She is known by hundreds of Needham youth who have participated in the Saturday morning workshops that are run by the team. Over the years, and many gymnasts later, she has been able to bring back three of her past gymnasts to assist in coaching, continuing to this day with a wonderful 2004 graduate. Abby has been voted Coach of the Year three times by her fellow BSC coaches, most recently this past season.
Girls Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track/Field
Girls Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track/Field
Chris Van Cott
Chris Van Cott
Coach Van Cott is currently in his 19th year coaching indoor and outdoor track and field at Needham High School. Additionally, he was the head boys cross country coach from 2008-2023. During his time with the Needham Rockets athletic program, CVC has had the privilege of coaching division and all-state champions in events ranging from the 400m hurdles to the 2 mile to the 4 x 400m relay and everything in between. Two of his proudest moments presiding over the Rockets, were in 2015 when the girls Distance Medley Relay team traveled down to Greensboro, North Carolina and won an outdoor national championship and in 2016 when both girls and boys indoor track teams won the division 2 state championship. CVC has built up a program with a focus on commitment, hard work, integrity and character.
Prior to coaching, CVC was a three season athlete at the University of Vermont where he received his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
Coach Van Cott lives with his wife and their two children Julia and James in Walpole.
Boys Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track/Field
Boys Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track/Field
Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs has been a part of the indoor/outdoor track & field program since 2011, spending the first 9 years as an assistant coach before being elevated to head coach of the boys team in 2020. Coach Isaacs works daily with the boys and girls throwers. Over the years, he has been able to witness some incredible individual and team performances highlighted by the 2016 indoor season where both the boys and girls won the Division 2 State Championship.
Jason grew up on Long Island (NY) and has lived in the Boston area since graduating from Boston College (BA; M.Ed). When not coaching, Jason spends his days as a math teacher and his evenings as a dad.
Meet our Varsity SPRING Coaches
Meet our Varsity SPRING Coaches
Boys Varsity Lacrosse
Boys Varsity Lacrosse
Mike Marcojohn
Mike Marcojohn
Mike is beginning his first season as the Head Varsity Coach for Needham Lacrosse, following eight years as the program's Junior Varsity coach.
His involvement with the sport extends to Needham Youth Lacrosse, where he helps coach the 7th and 8th-grade teams and organizes fall and winter clinics.
Beyond the field, Mike is in his ninth year as a Wellness teacher at Pollard Middle School. He teaches 7th-grade Experiential Education, a class focused on team building, low ropes activities, and improving social and emotional learning through play. He also teaches 8th-grade Physical Education. A highlight of his time at Pollard is his role as a chaperone for the Ski Club.
Girls Varsity Lacrosse
Girls Varsity Lacrosse
Gianna Cottrell
Gianna Cottrell
Gianna Cottrell is entering her first season as the Head Coach of the Needham High School Girls Varsity Lacrosse program. She currently teaches health education at Dover-Sherborn Middle School and has previous coaching experience with JV boys tennis, JV field hockey, and the Dover-Sherborn Youth Girls lacrosse program.
Originally from New York, she played field hockey and lacrosse at Lakeland High School before earning her B.S. in Physical and Health Education and M.Ed. in Athletic Administration from Springfield College, where she was a member of the women’s lacrosse program. Gianna started long distance running after graduating and has completed several half and full marathons, including the Boston Marathon in 2022. She previously coached club lacrosse with LaxPlus in Connecticut and served as a JV lacrosse coach for South Windsor High School prior to moving to Massachusetts in 2022.
She lives in Uxbridge, MA with her husband and their two dogs, Kona and Kouvr.
Boys Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track/Field
Boys Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track/Field
Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs has been a part of the indoor/outdoor track & field program since 2011, spending the first 9 years as an assistant coach before being elevated to head coach of the boys team in 2020. Coach Isaacs works daily with the boys and girls throwers. Over the years, he has been able to witness some incredible individual and team performances highlighted by the 2016 indoor season where both the boys and girls won the Division 2 State Championship.
Jason grew up on Long Island (NY) and has lived in the Boston area since graduating from Boston College (BA; M.Ed). When not coaching, Jason spends his days as a math teacher and his evenings as a dad.
Girls Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track/Field
Girls Varsity Indoor/Outdoor Track/Field
TBD
TBD
Fall COACHES
Fall COACHES
Boys Soccer
Boys Soccer
Girls Soccer
Girls Soccer
Football
Football
Field Hockey
Field Hockey
Boys Golf
Boys Golf
Girls Swim & Dive
Girls Swim & Dive
Girls Volleyball
Girls Volleyball
Boys Cross Country
Boys Cross Country
Girls Cross Country
Girls Cross Country
Fall Cheer
Fall Cheer
Fall Dance
Fall Dance
Coed Unified Basketball
Coed Unified Basketball
Coed Sailing
Coed Sailing
Alex Boni
WINTER COACHES
WINTER COACHES
Boys Basketball
Boys Basketball
Girls Basketball
Girls Basketball
Boys Indoor Track
Boys Indoor Track
Girls Indoor Track
Girls Indoor Track
Boys Ice Hockey
Boys Ice Hockey
Girls Ice Hockey
Girls Ice Hockey
Mike Jewkes
Wrestling
Wrestling
Ryan Hargraves
Boys Alpine Skiing
Boys Alpine Skiing
Girls Alpine Skiing
Girls Alpine Skiing
Winter Cheer
Winter Cheer
Winter Dance
Winter Dance
Boys Swim & Dive
Boys Swim & Dive
Gymnastics
Gymnastics
Coed Fencing
Coed Fencing
Cesar Morales
Coed Squash
Coed Squash
TBD
SPRING COACHES
SPRING COACHES
Baseball
Baseball
Softball
Softball
Boys Lacrosse
Boys Lacrosse
Girls Lacrosse
Girls Lacrosse
Boys Tennis
Boys Tennis
Girls Tennis
Girls Tennis
Boys Outdoor Track
Boys Outdoor Track
Girls Outdoor Track
Girls Outdoor Track
Boys Volleyball
Boys Volleyball
Girls Rugby
Girls Rugby
Girls Golf
Girls Golf
Unified Track and Field
Unified Track and Field
Coed Sailing
Coed Sailing
Boys Ultimate Frisbee
Boys Ultimate Frisbee
Girls Ultimate Frisbee
Girls Ultimate Frisbee
Girls Flag Football
Girls Flag Football
TBD
A THANK YOU TO OUR FORMER COACHES
A THANK YOU TO OUR FORMER COACHES
Boys VarsIty Cross Country
Boys VarsIty Cross Country
RICH BENNER
RICH BENNER
Rich is in his 8th year coaching the Needham High School Boys Cross Country and Track Teams. He is currently Head Coach for Cross Country and Assistant Coach for Boys Indoor Track and Outdoor Track. He started as a Volunteer Assistant in 2018, became a paid Assistant Coach in 2019, an Interim Head Cross Country Coach in 2022, and Head Coach in 2024. He emphasizes a supportive team atmosphere and helping student-athletes reach their potential.
Competitive Accomplishments
Rich’s career as a competitive athlete spanned 27 years. He attended Wellesley High School where he was a captain of the 1973 Bay State League Champion Cross Country Team. He set school records in the 1 Mile Run (a record that stood for 42 years), 4x880yd. Relay, and Distance Medley Relay (1974). Rich ran Cross Country and Track and Field at Lafayette College, a Division One program, where he set school records for 1500 Meters, 5000 Meters and the Distance Medley Relay (1978) and received the Peter Mills Crampton Most Improved Award (1978). After graduating Rich ran for the Greater Boston Track Club (1978-1983), BAA Running Club (1986-1991) and Boston Running Club (1992-1996). He was awarded Most Improved honors by the BAA Running Club in 1987 and was a Phoenix Award recipient for Boston Running Club in 1992. He concluded his competitive running career as USATF-New England Masters Mile Champion in 1996.
Education and Certifications
Rich graduated from Lafayette College in PA with a BA in Anthropology and Sociology in 1978. He received a certificate in Organization Development from Columbia University in 1993 and a Masters In Education in Instructional Design from U-Mass Boston in 2002. He is currently USATF Level 1 Coaching and USATF SafeSport certified.
Previous Career and Coaching Experience
Rich had a 36 year career at Liberty Mutual Insurance working in the Corporate Learning and Development group. He retired in 2018 as Director and AVP of Instructional Design and Instructional Technology. During this time Rich was also active in the local running community serving as a board member and President for the Boston Athletic Association Running Club and Boston Running Club from 1990 through 1996. As a board member he mentored recent college graduates transitioning to post-collegiate club running. He also volunteered as Parent-Coach for the Needham Youth Track Club in the 2000s when his two sons were active in the program. Rich coached his wife, Kim, to a 1996 US Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier and his son, John, a 2016 NHS graduate and XC/Track alum, to a sub-4 minute Mile in 2025.
Outside of coaching Rich enjoys travelling and hiking with Kim, visits with his sons, John and James, gardening, and reading about history, paleo-anthropology and conservation biology.
Boys VarsIty XC & Girls Ind/out track & field
Boys VarsIty XC & Girls Ind/out track & field
CHRIS VAN COTT
CHRIS VAN COTT
Chris Van Cott is officially retired as Boys Cross Country and Indoor & Outdoor Track Coach after over 15 years at the helm.
GIRLS VARSITY ICE HOCKEY
GIRLS VARSITY ICE HOCKEY
ALlisyn FURANO FOSTER
ALlisyn FURANO FOSTER
Allisyn Furano has retired as Varsity Girls Ice Hockey Coach after an incredible 29-year career. Her accomplishments include winning her third MIAA Coach of the Year Award in 2024 and two State Championships ('99 & '03). Alongside Coach Furano, her entire staff - Jim Caruso, James Caruso, and Tobin Kelly - will also be stepping down. Thank you all for your commitment to our program.
BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE
BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE
DAVID WAINWRIGHT
DAVID WAINWRIGHT
Dave Wainwright is stepped back from Boys Lacrosse at Needham High School after 22 years as Head Coach. He has had some long seasons going to back-to-back-to-back State Title Games! (Natick Girls Soccer ’23, Needham Boys Lacrosse ’24, and Wellesley Girls Soccer ’24). He led our Lax Team to the State Title in 2003, and he’s coached 49 All-Americans during his tenure.
WRESTLING
WRESTLING
DR. RObert PRITCHETT
DR. RObert PRITCHETT
Dr. Robert Pritchett resigned as Wrestling Head Coach after 12 years. Under Dr. P, the team produced eight State Champs and even a National Champion. He’s also inspired a number of alumni to return and coach alongside him.
UNIFIED BASKETBALL & TRACK & FIELD
UNIFIED BASKETBALL & TRACK & FIELD
ROB SUPER & KRISTIN BERGERON
ROB SUPER & KRISTIN BERGERON
Rob Super and Kristin Bergeron stepped back from coaching both Unified Basketball and Unified Track & Field in Spring 2025. They worked tirelessly with the MIAA and Special Olympics to create an exceptional experience for our students - especially those with physical and intellectual disabilities.
VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY
VARSITY FIELD HOCKEY
STEPH MAGNI
STEPH MAGNI
Steph Magni moved to a new school district and will be ending her coaching career (for now!) with the Rockets. Over 14 years, Steph has coached both our Softball and Field Hockey teams. Most recently, she earned Bay State Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2024. She will be truly missed.
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