Field Hockey
Coach Carbonell
Entering her fifth season behind the helm of the Big Red Field Hockey program, Carbonell sports a record of 29-17-9 (.609) overall including a .689 winning percentage. Over the last two seasons her squads have posted a combined mark of 17-6-6.
A member of the faculty in the English Department, Carbonell is in her second tenure with Exeter, having served three years in the mid 1990s before departing to pursue graduate studies in Education at Stanford University. Prior to returning to Exeter in 2000, Carbonell also spent time as a teacher and coach at Milton Academy.
Carbonell earned an undergraduate degree from Brown University, where she played squash. Carbonell also serves as assistant coach with the girl's squash and lacrosse programs.
Send email to Coach Mercy Carbonell.
Girls Soccer
Coach Coder
Hilary Coder begins this year as Exeter’s Girls Varsity Soccer Coach with the same energy and enthusiasm that has been her trademark from day one in 1983. “I’m completely spoiled here at Exeter. Does the fact that I know I’m spoiled make that okay?” She lists the bright, hard-working and mature teenagers she gets to work with as gift number one. Add to that the numerous resources (athletic trainers, nutritionists, strength and conditioning specialists), the school and programs’ history and the high caliber of colleagues and the result is a top notch experience for anyone that chooses to play soccer at Exeter.
Exeter soccer teams expect to reach deep into the tournament every year having made the eight team New England Prep School Tournament for 12 of the last 14. Exeter has been in the final 6 times. Coach Coder’s philosophy is strikingly simple: “I’ll take team chemistry and work ethic over flash of an individual player any day. An athlete who is willing to sacrifice their personal glory to make the team better is the one who impacts our team in the best and most significant way.” She believes that deliberately building team dynamics through hard work, clearly established team goals and a willingness to spend the time with individuals as they mature is the best approach.
Coach Coder earned her degree from The Pennsylvania State University. Her first summer as Exeter’s coach was spent in Manchester, England immersed in soccer at the Manchester United training grounds. She also has expertise in speed development, psychological principles and a teen’s specific physiological fitness needs. She has two sons; Kelly ’04 and Vaughan ’08 who can brag that their grandfather was the chosen USA goalkeeper for the 1956 Olympic Soccer Team.
Coach Coder is also the head coach of Exeter's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams.
Send email to Coach Hilary Coder.
Girls Cross Country
Coach Coogan
Gwyn Coogan certainly has made a significant impact in her first two seasons at the helm of the girls cross country program. Over her first two seasons, Coogan coached Big Red to their fourth and fifth straight New England Division I Championships which also included a perfect 8-0 record in head-to-head meets last season. The girls were runners up at the New England championships in 2005 and 2006.
Coogan certainly knows a thing or two about winning. The 1983 Exeter graduate took up track for the first time at Smith College, where she went on to capture two NCAA Division III Championships in the 3,000 meter. She later qualified for and ran the 10,000 meters for the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
A member of Exeter's math faculty, Coogan holds a bachelor's degree from Smith and a doctorate from the University of Colorado. She is married to former Olympian Mark Coogan, and has three children, the oldest of which attends Phillips Exeter Academy and is a member of the Varisty Soccer squad. Coach Coogan is also assistant coach of the Outdoor Track & Field teams. Send email to Coach Gwyn Coogan.
Boys Cross Country
Coach Unger
Nick Unger makes his head coaching debut this year, after serving as assistant coach under Mark Coogan for three years. Coach Unger inherits a dominant program that has won three New England Championships in the past four years, and he hopes to continue this tradition of excellence. “Lasse Viren, the ‘Flying Finn,’ has always been my idol,” says Unger, “and I try to instill in my runners a trait he embodied: sisu, which, roughly translated, means courage, fortitude, and love of the woods. “By the way, our pre-race cheer is also Finnish, but you’ll have to join the team to find out what that means.” Before coming to Exeter, coach Unger was the head varsity coach of girls cross country for five years at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, MA.
A member of the classics department, coach Unger earned his bachelor’s degree at Yale University and his master’s at University of California at Berkeley. Graduating from Exeter in 1990, he was co-captain of the cross country team under legendary coach Dave Weber. Send email to Coach Nick Unger
Boys Soccer
Coach Dennehy
Entering his 30th season at the helm of the Big Red boys soccer program, winning is certainly something Bill Dennehy is used to. In fact, when he first took over the program the team proceeded to go undefeated through its first 18 games, spanning a season and a half. "I thought we'd never lose," Dennehy recalls. He revised his thinking, but his teams still win more often than they lose as an 11-5-1 record in 2004 attests.
"I just like to see the kids be successful," he said. "And being successful doesn't mean they have to win every game."
The Springfield College graduate is in his 34th year overall at Exeter. Dennehy has also served as the head coach of the varsity baseball program for 29 years and is an assistant coach with the boys varsity hockey program. Send email to Coach Bill Dennehy.
Football
Coach Glennon
Entering his 15th season as head coach of the football program at Exeter, Glennon is climbing the ladder toward the career 70-win mark, sporting a career record of 63-48-2 (.561) at the start of the 2006-2007 season.
His longtime perseverance paid off in the ultimate fashion in 2003 as Big Red posted a 10-0 record and captured the New England Prep School Championship.
Glennon modestly points to the players who have come through Exeter for his longtime success. "There have been some good years, and some pretty good talent," he notes.
Glennon played football and lacrosse at Springfield College, where he earned his bachelor's degree in physical education. While pursuing a master's degree in education administration at the University at Albany (NY), he began his coaching career. Glennon later held coaching positions at Hampton-Sydney and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).
Glennon served four years (1985-88) as head coach at RIT, compiling a 48-14 record, coaching 12 All-American and one Academic All American selections. He earned four straight Empire Athletic Conference titles, three NCAA tournament appearances and two NCAA "Final Four" appearances. His 14 wins in 1985 remains the RIT program record for wins in a season.
A successful lacrosse coach as well, Glennon serves as assistant coach of the Big Red varsity program in the Spring.
Glennon also serves as head coach of the boys junior varsity ice hockey program. Send email to Coach Bill Glennon.
Water Polo
Coach Mills
A new face behind the water polo bench in 2005, Don Mills inherited what has been the dominant water polo program in the region for over 20 years. Mills is certainly ingrained in the program, having served as assistant coach the previous three seasons under legendary coach and program founder Roger Nekton.
Mills inherited a team that is the eight-time defending New England Champion having posted a 21-3 mark last year, as well as a program that has garnered an incredible 21 titles overall.
Mills has also spent the last three years coaching the Exeter cycling team which took the 2005 New England Championship, its second title in the last three years. Since he took charge, the program as grown from just five members to an average annual roster of 24.
Mills has been a USA Cycling Expert coach for six years.
As a competitive cyclist, he has ridden in the elite category for 18 years. He is a two-time New England champion and a member of the top-ranked elite team in the nation.
A graduate of Plymouth State College, he also coaches mountain biking and boys' JV hockey at Exeter. Send email to Coach Don Mills.
Volleyball
Coach Saltman
Scott Saltman has been synonymous with volleyball at Exeter since its inception. He established the program as a club in 1992 and the team was elevated to varsity status in 1993.
Saltman's architectural designs didn't take long to produce results. He immediately established the program as a top contender, and Big Red took the New England Prep title just one season later in 1994.
The program added a second title banner in 2000. His 2002 team won regular season league championship with a 12-0 record, taking second in New England tournament.
Big Red Volleyball has also placed numerous student-athletes on the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team.
Before arriving at Exeter, Coach Saltman graduated from Amherst College and taught at the Charlotte Country Day School. He teaches physics at Exeter and is the head of the Science Department.
Send email to Coach Scott Saltman.
