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News & Announcements
Overview & Philosophy
Taft’s athletic program is an integral component of school life.
From participants in our intramural programs to elite athletes preparing for competitive careers at the college level, Taft students are taught the value of health and wellness, the importance of a lifelong commitment to fitness, and the enjoyment that participating in all forms of athletics can bring.
In building one of the most successful athletic programs in New England, our coaches encourage fair play, respect for opponents, a love of the game, competitive spirit, and team loyalty. As a result, our students leave Taft with an understanding of hard work and good sportsmanship, a sense of responsibility to one’s team and teammates, the ability to set goals, and an overall commitment to healthy living through physical activity.
Meet Our Varsity Coaches
Head Coach
Boys' Varsity Hockey
Ryan Shannon '01 returns to Taft to lead the hockey team once again--this time from the coaches box.
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Golf
As a coach, Ginger is as interested in modeling character and a commitment to service as she is to instilling a love of the game.
Head Coach
Boys' Varsity Lacrosse
Nic comes to Taft with a storied history as an exceptional prep school coach.
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Basketball
Coach Willson's teams change from year to year, but all have play unselfishly, smart, and with honor.
Head Coach
Boys' Varsity Squash
A highly decorated athlete and scholar in both high school and college, Kate Pistel brings her talent and sportsmanship to Taft's playing fields.
Head Coach
Boys' Golf
An accomplished and highly-regarded golfer, Coach Kenerson has led his teams to six Founders League championships.
Head Coach
Wrestling
Head Coach
Softball
Tom's academic focus is on history; his softball teams have made some of their own.
Head Coach
Varsity Football
A scholar, an athlete, and a Rhino through and through, Tyler Whitley returned to his alma mater in 2012 to lead the football team.
![Jennifer Chandler]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1633622346/taft/joajwqdxv29apfwkomjx/JCNEW113681.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1633622346/taft/joajwqdxv29apfwkomjx/JCNEW113681.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1633622346/taft/joajwqdxv29apfwkomjx/JCNEW113681.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1633622346/taft/joajwqdxv29apfwkomjx/JCNEW113681.jpg","width":904}])
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Squash
Jennifer Chandler is at home on the court and with a racquet in her hand.
Crew Program Director
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Crew
Will Shotwell brings a world of experience to the water and to the classroom.
Head Coach
Boys' and Girls' Track
Long-time track coach Steve McCabe and his family are deeply ingrained in the fabric of the Taft community.
![Michael Mastrocola '08]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1636733136/taft/denxmhpt3fvkz3ari3kr/1Mastrocola_Michael.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1636733136/taft/denxmhpt3fvkz3ari3kr/1Mastrocola_Michael.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1636733136/taft/denxmhpt3fvkz3ari3kr/1Mastrocola_Michael.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1636733136/taft/denxmhpt3fvkz3ari3kr/1Mastrocola_Michael.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1636733136/taft/denxmhpt3fvkz3ari3kr/1Mastrocola_Michael.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1636733136/taft/denxmhpt3fvkz3ari3kr/1Mastrocola_Michael.jpg","width":2200}])
Head Coach
Varsity Baseball
![Alex Budd]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1636731679/taft/memdtjmc8kyvca2c1esn/AlexBudd2JPG.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1636731679/taft/memdtjmc8kyvca2c1esn/AlexBudd2JPG.jpg","width":495}])
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Tennis
Alex brings her great tennis knowledge to Taft to lead to the girls' varsity tennis squad.
![Jenna McNicholas]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1636731395/taft/wdtqffzuydls8dfjlkye/McNicholas_Jenna.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1636731395/taft/wdtqffzuydls8dfjlkye/McNicholas_Jenna.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1636731395/taft/wdtqffzuydls8dfjlkye/McNicholas_Jenna.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1636731395/taft/wdtqffzuydls8dfjlkye/McNicholas_Jenna.jpg","width":848}])
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Lacrosse
![Morgan Manz '13]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1636731065/taft/ncg3p9cfmobgdoubgxrt/newManzMorgan.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1636731065/taft/ncg3p9cfmobgdoubgxrt/newManzMorgan.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1636731065/taft/ncg3p9cfmobgdoubgxrt/newManzMorgan.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1636731065/taft/ncg3p9cfmobgdoubgxrt/newManzMorgan.jpg","width":960}])
Head Coach
Varsity Volleyball
A 2013 graduate, Morgan returned to Taft to lead the varsity volleyball team.
![Jeremy LaCasse]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1636730211/taft/sjpb7j9hcy6jy6v6yuxk/101247_2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1636730211/taft/sjpb7j9hcy6jy6v6yuxk/101247_2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1636730211/taft/sjpb7j9hcy6jy6v6yuxk/101247_2.jpg","width":600}])
Head Coach
Varsity Ski Racing
Jeremy has been coaching at Taft for eight years, and it has been a highlight in his coaching career!
![Sam DeMello]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1635797245/taft/enyampthdws44pvzlqae/DeMelloSam.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1635797245/taft/enyampthdws44pvzlqae/DeMelloSam.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1635797245/taft/enyampthdws44pvzlqae/DeMelloSam.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1635797245/taft/enyampthdws44pvzlqae/DeMelloSam.jpg","width":960}])
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Soccer
Sam brings his soccer experience to Taft to head the girls' varsity soccer team.
![Ann Bell]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1635796711/taft/frlqa3jr5q2lfn0ckf4f/BellAnn.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1635796711/taft/frlqa3jr5q2lfn0ckf4f/BellAnn.jpg","width":456}])
Head Coach
Varsity Field Hockey
![Steve Palmer]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1635796267/taft/hlnaquhnzpjhjja5zshr/PalmerSteve.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1635796267/taft/hlnaquhnzpjhjja5zshr/PalmerSteve.jpg","width":349}])
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Cross Country
![Al Reiff]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1635791851/taft/tewpbefickuy54c6cowt/ReiffAl.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1635791851/taft/tewpbefickuy54c6cowt/ReiffAl.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1635791851/taft/tewpbefickuy54c6cowt/ReiffAl.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1635791851/taft/tewpbefickuy54c6cowt/ReiffAl.jpg","width":960}])
Head Coach
Boys' Varsity Cross Country
Al took the reins of the boys' varsity cross country team in the fall of 2021 after serving as an assistant for eight years.
![Marty Aspholm]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1634229792/taft/echndqfplj0rrph5d79r/newAspholmMartin.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1634229792/taft/echndqfplj0rrph5d79r/newAspholmMartin.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1634229792/taft/echndqfplj0rrph5d79r/newAspholmMartin.jpg","width":675}])
Head Coach
Boys' Varsity Crew
Martin brings a passion for developing student athletes and for competitive racing to the Taft crew program.
Head Coach
Boys' Varsity Tennis
Peter has taken to the Taft courts as both student and coach. His legendary coaching career now spans 30 years.
Head Coach
Boys' Varsity Basketball
Throughout his life and career, Shavar has been recognized as a leader, and celebrated for his sportsmanship.
Head Coach
Boys' Varsity Soccer
Ozzie is an award-winning coach who has earned tremendous respect both on and off the field. He was recently named 2016 Connecticut Large Prep School Coach of the Year.
Head Coach
Girls' Varsity Hockey
You don’t have to be a sports fan to remember women’s hockey making its debut at the Olympic Winter Games in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. The U.S. would go on to win the first gold medal in women's hockey history, in game against Canada where Taft’s own Gretchen Silverman scored a goal.