There’s no place like home for nearly half of the athletic coaches at La Salle Academy in Providence, RI. Thirty-six of the school’s 83 coaches and the athletic director are La Salle Academy graduates. With alumni serving as eight head coaches and 28 assistant coaches, 44 percent of the coaching staff members are graduates of the school.
Athletic Director Ted Quigley ’73 and McGinn
These coaches display deep passion and pride for their school, like former track and cross country runner Vincent McGinn ’97, who is now the Boys Outdoor Track and Field Head Coach. “La Salle is the place where I found myself. The values that I learned here are the values that I try to live my life by and that I care deeply about,” said McGinn. “I just wanted to help my alma mater give to students attending the school now what was given to me, my father, grandfather and great grandfather when we attended.”
The tradition and feeling of family at La Salle draw alumni back to coach on their home turf. Boys and Girls Volleyball Head Coach Jadine Ferri ’03, who participated in volleyball, cheerleading and soccer, said it was her dream to coach at her alma mater and give back. “I want to continue to be part of something so great, something bigger than most people could imagine,” said Ferri. “We are family, and who wouldn’t want to spend their free time with family.”
The alumni coaches have helped build champions and capture state title after state title. Since 2000, La Salle teams have won 55 state titles including 33 in just the past five years. “To coach at LSA means to continue to be a part of a long standing tradition of excellence,” said Leanne DeMarco ’97, Softball Coach and former player (pictured at left). “When you tell people that you are a graduate of LSA and now a coach they raise an eyebrow and seem to show you a different kind of respect.”
The 36 alumni coaches and the athletic director graduated from the school over 42 years from 1967 to 2009. Each person was clearly touched by the Lasallian experience. “After attending LSA you never really leave,” said Girls Basketball Head and former basketball player Sean Reddy ’79 (pictured below). “The school plays such a vital role in your teenage life and lays the foundation for your adulthood. LSA is always a part of you.”
