Published: 3/31/2022 9:11:05 PM
Modified: 3/31/2022 9:10:10 PM
BRADFORD, Vt. — Oxbow High girls basketball coach Barry Emerson and girls soccer coach Dan Thomas are both leaving their positions, athletic director Derek Cipriano confirmed to the Valley News.
Emerson, who spent nine seasons leading the Olympians on the hardwood, reached the VPA Division III state title game in 2019, which Oxbow lost to Upper Valley rival Thetford. The following year, the Olympians finished 17-5 and were named co-champions along with three other teams when the semifinals and finals were canceled due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perhaps Emerson’s greatest legacy is the Saturday morning clinics he led at the high school, with his varsity players helping teach third through sixth grade girls from Oxbow’s sending towns the finer points of the game.
“I hope it’s something that kids look forward to coming from elementary school into junior high and into high school,” Emerson said. “Those younger kids, they enjoy it, working with older kids who they look up to. I hope it continues.”
In January 2020, Emerson was suspended from his position for two weeks for “making an inappropriate comment in the presence of student-athletes,” as principal Jean Wheeler told the Valley News at the time. Wheeler said she did not believe Emerson’s remark was ill-intentioned, and he was restored to his position following the suspension.
Emerson left his coaching job on his own terms, saying he wanted to spend more time at home with his family. He will continue teaching physical education at Oxbow.
“I let (the team) know early on, before the season ended, just to prepare them,” Emerson said. “I’ve got a couple of juniors who were looking forward to next year with me being there, and it came as a little bit of a shock to them. But when it’s all said and done, everybody’s OK with it.”
Thomas spent just three years as the girls soccer coach after arriving in 2019 as a mathematics teacher. He took over following a 13-2-1 season and a trip to the semifinals in 2018 under Charlie Barton, but the Olympians could not replicate that success, losing in the first round of the playoffs in each of Thomas’s three seasons. Oxbow went 21-16-2 under Thomas.
Cipriano said the school decided to go in a different direction with the program in relieving Thomas of his duties. Thomas could not be reached for comment.
“They cared deeply about their craft and their coaching, and put in a lot of work for our kids,” Cipriano said. “Both of them have been good additions and have provided so much for our community.”
Oxbow put out an announcement on Facebook last Friday that the school is accepting applications for Emerson’s and Thomas’s replacements, and they are also looking for parents and students to sit on the interview committees.
Cipriano said he hopes to have the new hires finalized within the next month so that the new coaches can use the summer to prepare for their first seasons.
“We’re looking for some experienced coaches who are wanting to come in here and put their own stamp on the programs,” Cipriano said. “They’re filling in for some people who have put in a lot of time and effort. There’s good structure in place, but we also want people who are going to come in and bring their own personality and dedication.”
Benjamin Rosenberg can be reached at brosenberg@vnews.com or 603-727-3302.
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