SPRING 2015
John Gardner 40 Years at Avon Old Farms School
THE VALUE OF A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION AVON WINS THE GREEN CUP CHALLENGE—AGAIN! CATCHING UP WITH BRIAN CONROY ’82
John Gardner Celebrating 40 Years Behind the Bench By Morgan C. Cugell
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fter 40 years of living and working at Avon Old Farms, John Gardner knows one thing: consistency—despite the forward progression of time and technology, and a new breed of students—is exactly how Avon has cemented its standing as one of the preeminent prep schools for boys. “I always say the school has changed a lot, but it’s stayed the same in a lot of ways,” John says. “Our mission hasn’t changed. What we are really hasn’t changed. We’ve gotten a little bit bigger, we’ve added a lot of new buildings, and I think we focus on serving the students better, but Avon’s mission is really the same.” A longtime believer in the prep school experience, John grew up on the campus of perennial Avon rival Salisbury School, where his father was a teacher. He matriculated to Wesleyan University, where he excelled as a tri-varsity athlete, competing on the football, hockey, and baseball teams. In November 2011, John was inducted into Wesleyan’s Athletic Hall of Fame, in recognition of his many contributions to the school’s athletic program. John was the starting goaltender for the first three varsity men’s ice hockey seasons at Wesleyan (1971-74) and collected a total of 1,742 saves in 50 career games. John came to Avon in 1975 and has been an integral part of the faculty and administration ever since. He has served in a number of capacities at Avon over the years, including mathematics teacher, athletic director, and provost. He currently holds the title of associate headmaster. Coach Gardner is also in his 40th year as head coach of the Winged Beavers, amassing an impressive list of accolades as
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Spring 2015 The Avonian
he single-handedly transformed Avon Old Farms into the premier prep school hockey program in New England. His teams have won an astonishing eight New England Prep Division I Championships and produced numerous collegiate and professional athletes. Several of his players have also represented the United States at the Olympic Games. This winter, John celebrated two more milestones: his 700th career victory, and a few weeks later, his 708th, catapulting him into the record books as the all-time winningest coach in prep school history. John has dedicated himself to coaching and teaching, and has been honored many times for his success. In 2010, he received the John Mariucci Award from the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA), the top honor given to a secondary school ice hockey coach. He also received the Connecticut Alliance of Sportswriters Gold Key Award in 2010 for outstanding achievement in coaching. As a hockey coaching legend in Connecticut and around the country, John is renowned for his work behind the bench. And he continues to devote as much time as he can to getting better, attending coaching conferences, regularly catching college practices, and scrutinizing film after every single game.
Village Green Athletics
“We know what makes [the boys] tick and what motivates them, so we can focus on that in the classroom, and sports, and residential life.”
tick and what motivates them, so we can focus on that in the classroom, and sports, and residential life. “You have to be learning Those are essentially the three -John Gardner all the time, otherwise you components of life at Avon.” fall behind,” he notes. “Is John is quick to note that it the same game? Yes. Has today’s students have been brought it changed? Yes. You have to stay up in a different world than when he current. Sticks are lighter, equipment began 40 years ago, but that the Avon is better. The kids are bigger, they education is universal in its ability to skate faster, and they shoot the puck develop good young men. “I think we harder.” teach them the right values,” he says. John plans his practices no “They need to learn that hard work more than a week ahead, writing and honesty will win out in the end. up a specific plan for every day and We have to do a good job in teaching frequently changing that plan, based responsibility. on what the team needs as well “They learn to live on their own—to as recent game results. He tries to make their own decisions, and live with incorporate several drills to cover those decisions. That’s Avon—it goes skills—such as skating, shooting, and beyond giving them a good education stick handling—as well as offering and getting into college. We want them more situational experiences that will to grow up and be responsible.” occur in game play. He recalls a former student who Despite the daily rigor to which he, his assistant coaches, told him, “I don’t remember anything about my chemistry and players have grown accustomed, John makes sure that both class, but I do remember that talk I had with you one night on and off the ice, they know he’s more than just their coach. in Pelican dorm.” He spends significant time in the locker rooms just enjoying “And you say, ‘Wow.’ I think being able to connect being around his players and having fun. with the students is really important, for them to make it “You try to make sure you have an open door, and that at Avon,” explains John. “Whether it’s a faculty member, a they feel comfortable talking to you—you hope they do,” he housekeeper—or just somebody they feel comfortable with. In explains. “You try to connect with them and let them know a way, it’s our job to be their parents.” you’re there for them. They have to buy in, and see the The job may have changed over the years, and new players opportunities that they have. If they’re frustrated in some way, skate fresh ice each season, but for John Gardner, Avon will you have to give them ways to improve and get better.” always be about one thing: the students. It’s an approach that he finds equally beneficial as a faculty “You try to remember why you’re here,” he states. “You’re member. In fact, he believes that the relationship-driven model here to help the students. To help boys become men, and of learning is what sets Avon apart from other schools. to teach them the right values, so that when they graduate “Because we’re all boys, we have a unique advantage,” he from Avon, they’re ready to go to college, and hopefully we’ve observes. “We can focus on boys—we know what makes them supplemented what the parents have taught at home.”
The Avonian Spring 2015
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