Meet our Winter Coaches

Amanda Frank '88 - Curling

1. How many years have you been coaching?
Coach Frank, a Brimmer alum and parent, started the curling team 6 years ago. She has been the head coach for all six curling seasons. She has also been coaching with assistant coach, Dean of Students, Paul Murray for 4 years. 
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won? 
This winter will start the 7th coaching year for Coach Frank. During her time as head coach, the team won an Inter school Championship.
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.  
Coach Frank has been curling for 10 years at The Country Club.
 
4. Why do you coach? 
“I love teaching the students how to play, strategize, and perform on the ice. I love getting to know all of the students and have that connection with them. I also like that curling gives the students an alternative sport to chose for their required team sports!”
 
Rebecca Reed- Varsity Girls' Basketball
 
1. How many years have you been coaching?
Coach Reed has been coaching high school athletics for 17 years.
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
This will be Coach Reed’s second season with the Gators. Last year the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team made it to the first round of the tournament. 
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable. 
Coach Reed attended the Rivers School where she was a four year member of the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team.  
 
4. Why do you coach?
“I was coached by many great men and women, and I strive to pass on to others the great wisdom they shared with me. I coach with the ultimate goal of teaching my players what it takes to succeed in life. The foundations for success in athletics are the same for life; teamwork, sportsmanship, work ethic, attitude, confidence, and commitment. The ability to have a positive influence on a young person's life and to help them achieve their goals and dreams, both on and off the court, is incredibly fulfilling. It has never been more important to empower our young women, and I enjoy being a part of doing just that.”

Katherine Morrison- Varsity Girls' Basketball Assistant
 
1. How many years have you been coaching?
Coach Morrison has been coaching high school AAU basketball for the past two years. 
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
This will be Coach Morrison’s first year coaching at Brimmer.
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.
Coach Morrison has been playing basketball for 12 years, including college basketball in Sacramento, CA.
 
4. Why do you coach?
I coach because I love the game. Even more, I love being with a team of young individuals that love the same game that I do. The game allows us to strengthen ourselves and experience team bonding as we struggle and celebrate together through the tumultuous roller coaster an athletic season can bring. I love how teammates feel like family to each other and especially once it's all over. 
 
Jonathan Pronto- Middle School Girls' Basketball
 
1. How many years have you been coaching?
Coach Pronto has coached for 3 years at the collegiate level. He has coach at Yale, Florida Atlantic, and Boston College.
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
This is Coach Pronto’s first year coaching at Brimmer.
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.  
Coach Pronto started playing basketball at age 6 and continued playing competitively through high school. 
 
4. Why do you coach?
“I coach because I love to see the passion and the development in players from the first practice all the way up to the final game. Seeing our youth being apart of something special and the appreciation of teamwork makes this job easy and worth while.”
 
Tom Nelson- Varsity Boys' Basketball Head Coach 
 
1. How many years have you been coaching?
Coach Nelson has been coaching basketball for 15 years. He has coached at the high school and college level. He is currently coaching one of the top AAU teams in the country.
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
This will be Coach Nelson’s 6th season coaching at Brimmer. 
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.
Coach Nelson started playing basketball at a young age and continued playing in college at Holy Cross. 
 
4. Why do you coach?
“I coach because I have the ability to mentor, teach, and mold lives in a positive manner. I help my athletes learn that hard word and teamwork will be traits that will last with them their whole lives.”
 
Scott Forest- Varsity Boys' Basketball Assistant Coach
 
1. How many years have you been coaching?
Coach Forest has been coaching basketball for 6 years. 
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
Coach Forest will be starting his 4th season coaching at Brimmer. 
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.
Coach Forest started playing basketball when he was 10-years-old. 
 
4. Why do you coach?
“I coach because I love the game of basketball. I like creating teams and fostering relationships with the players and the community.“
 
Abraham Soto- Varsity 2 Boys' Basketball
 
1. How many years have you been coaching?
Coach Soto has coached 1 year at the youth level and 5 years at the high school level.
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
Coach Soto is back for his 6th year coaching at Brimmer after a 2 year hiatus.
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.  
Coach Soto played college basketball at Gordon College in Wenham, MA. He attended Saint Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, NJ, and was a member of a nationally ranked basketball team that holds 25 state titles and 3 national titles.
 
4. Why do you coach?
“I coach because basketball is a sport that I enjoy, know, and have experience in.”
 
Issac Jenkins- Junior Varsity Boys' Basketball
 
1. How many years have you been coaching?
Coach Jenkins has worked closely with the NBA for a number of years. He has been apart of the the annual Summer League in Las Vegas as well as the ADIDAS Eruo camp in Italy, where he was an assistant coach. Last year, he was a player development coach with the Maine Red Claws, an affiliate of the Boston Celtics. 
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
This is Coach Jenkins’ first year with the Brimmer Gators, and he is excited for the season.
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.  
Coach Jenkins started playing basketball at an early age. He attended Savio Prep in East Boston and then continued playing during his time spent at prep school at Lee Academy in Maine. Following high school, Coach Jenkins went on to play DI basketball at Wyoming and DIII basketball at Umass Boston. His career didn't end there, as he traveled to Italy in 2012 and 2013 to play both semi-professionally and professionally. 
 
4. Why do you coach?
“I coach because of the love for the game, as well as being able to transmit that love and knowledge to my players.”
 
Matt Vaughan- 7th Grade Boys' Basketball
 
1. How many years have you been coaching?
This will be Coach Vaughan’s second season coaching basketball.
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
Coach Vaughan began his coaching career at Brimmer last year. 
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.
Coach Vaughan started playing basketball at age 9 and continued playing until he was 16. 
 
4. Why do you coach?
“I coach at Brimmer because it allows me an opportunity to see the students in a different world. Playing team sports creates strong bonds between teachers and students, and I love to get to know the students in an environment that is completely outside of the classroom.”

Mario Kula - 6th Grade Boys' Basketball

1. How many years have you been coaching? and at what levels? (youth, college, professional)
Coach Kula has coached various sports at the elementary and middle school levels.
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
This will be Coach Kula's first year coaching for the Gators.
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.
Coach Kula attended Brimmer for 6th to 10th grade. During his time spent at Brimmer he was involved in the basketball program as well as playing for an AAU team outside of school. 
 
4. Why do you coach?
"I grew up playing sports at Brimmer and always looked up to my coaches. They helped us realize that being a good team is more important than beating one. It is extremely rewarding to give kids the right tools and watch them build as a team that they enjoy being a part of"

Joseph Sharkey '10- 8th Grade Boys' Basketball

1.  How many years have you been coaching? and at what levels? (youth, college, professional)
This will be Coach Sharkey's first year coaching although he has worked with youth programs at various summer camps. 
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
Coach Sharkey is a former Gator. He attended Brimmer from 7th to 9th grade ('04-07,), before attending the Northfield Mount Hermon School. At Northfield, Coach Sharkey was a  member of the 2010 Prep School National Championship runner up team.
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.
Coach Sharkey has been playing basketball for 14 years. He played collegiate basketball at Brown University.

4. Why do you coach?
"I coach because I have a passion for basketball and wish to share it with others to help show how great of an impact sports can have in our lives."

Brandon Allen '12- Junior Varsity Girls' Basketball

1.  How many years have you been coaching? and at what levels? (youth, college, professional)
Coach Allen is a Brimmer alum returning for his first year of coaching. 
 
2. Years coaching at Brimmer? Championships or tournaments won?
This will be Coach Allen's first year coaching at Brimmer. 
 
3. Years playing or participating in your particular sport? Feel free to include your highest level playing if applicable.
Coach Allen started playing basketball when he was a kid and was a member of the Brimmer Boys' Varsity II team.
 
4. Why do you coach?
"When I took the job to coach, I did so because sports are not just a way of training the body, but a way of instilling valuable life lessons: teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship. I wanted to give back to my alma mater in any way that I could. I coach because I was blessed with a wonderful team of girls who deserve an excellent coach. In return, they have blessed me with their efforts, their attention, and their enthusiasm."

Brimmer and May School

69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617-566-7462
As an inclusive private school community, Brimmer welcomes students who will increase the diversity of our school. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected from discrimination under state or federal law, in the administration of our educational policies, admissions practices, financial aid decisions, and athletic and other school-administered programs.