Tufts Athletics News

Thursday, April 17, 2008

FOUR JUMBO ASSISTANT COACHES FROM THIS YEAR LAND JOBS AT OTHER SCHOOLS

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University Athletics department has been a launching pad for talented assistant coaches this semester. Four members of the Tufts 2007-08 coaching staff have been hired recently, with each one advancing their career.

Football graduate assistant coach (GA) Ben Bloom, a 2005 Tufts graduate who worked with the Jumbo defensive line, got it started when he was hired as a defensive line assistant at Harvard University of the Ivy League. Marritt Cafarchia, Volleyball's GA in 2006 and 2007, was then hired by College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts as its head volleyball coach. Kate Gluckman, a 2004 Tufts graduate and Women's Basketball GA for the last two seasons, was named the new women's basketball coach at Grinnell College in Iowa. Most recently, Football defensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and secondary coach John Walsh accepted a position coaching outside linebackers at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He had coached at Tufts since 2001.

Coach Cafarchia

Coach Bloom

"They're all outstanding coaches," Tufts Athletics Director Bill Gehling said. "Each is passionate about their sport, excellent teachers and team builders, and
they were great staff members. The four schools will be very happy with their choices. I'm quite sure of that."

Ironically, Cafarchia and Gluckman lived together in an apartment near the Tufts campus during their Jumbo GA tenures. Both were integral parts of their respective teams this year. When Tufts volleyball coach Cora Thompson took a leave of absence for personal reasons, Cafarchia was thrust into the head coaching role for the entire season. Without an assistant coach, she guided the squad to a 19-13 record, including 11 wins in 12 matches late in the year.

"Marritt brought the most impressive levels of energy and commitment to the court daily, which were only surpassed by her contagious passion for excellence," Thompson said. "She is the epitome of a dedicated coach whose priority is motivating and supporting her student-athletes daily."

Gluckman played basketball and was a thrower for the track & field team at Tufts. In 2004 she was presented the Athletics Department's Murray J. Kenney Award for positive attitude and persistence, qualities which have been valuable in her young coaching career. She was Coach Carla Berube's top assistant for a women's basketball team that had its best season in Tufts history this year. The Jumbos advanced to the NCAA Tournament quarter-finals and finished with a 26-4 record.

Coach Walsh

Coach Gluckman

"Kate is the quintessential coach," Berube said. "She is a role model, mentor and educator. Grinnell Women's Basketball is very lucky to have someone with Kate's passion for the game of basketball and for fostering leaders of tomorrow. We will miss her immensely, but she has definitely left an indelible mark on our successful program."

Walsh brought an intensity to coaching defense that helped the Jumbo Football produce many nationally ranked statistics during his seven-year tenure. He coached several All-American defenders, including career interceptions leader Evan Zupancic. As recruiting coordinator, Walsh directed the construction of a Jumbo team that many believe is currently one of the most talented groups in recent team history. A 1997 graduate of Amherst College, Walsh will work under his college coach Jack Siedlecki at Yale.

Bloom was a two-year starter on the offensive line for the Jumbos in 2003 and 2004. The team's GA for two seasons, he was both a key contributor to the coaching staff as a tactician and also as one of the grunts who took care of all the little things that make a successful program operate on a daily basis.

"Both guys will be sorely missed, but both are very deserving of the new opportunities that they've earned," Tufts Football coach Bill Samko said. "Our philosophy over the years has revolved around playing good defense. Coach Walsh's guys provided that consistently every year. The players can't say enough about him. In the last few years, Coach Bloom has been one of the hardest workers on the entire Tufts coaching staff. Their new jobs at the two most prestigious schools in the country shows the quality of the coaching they did at Tufts."

Tufts has long been a stepping stone for aspiring coaches. Coach John Casey's Baseball program graduated Bryant College head coach Jamie Pinzino and Azusa Pacific coach Paul Svagdis into the ranks. Several current Tufts coaches were previously GA's for the Jumbos - Ethan Barron (men's cross country/track & field), Casey, Mike Daly (men's lacrosse/football assistant), Cheryl Milligan (softball), Kristen Morwick (women's cross country/track & field), Brian Murphy (hockey), Thompson and Martha Whiting (women's soccer). Additionally, men's tennis/squash coach Doug Eng, Samko and men's basketball/golf leader Bob Sheldon were assistant coaches at Tufts who eventually became Jumbo head coaches.

"The entire Athletics Department as a whole makes coaching so much fun and has created such a supportive environment for young coaches that I think all of our new positions are a testament to the department and its ability to inspire and prepare assistants to continue in the field of coaching," Gluckman said.

"Tufts is such a special place," said Cafarchia, who was a scholarship player at the University of California Davis. "So many coaches and administrators took an active part in mentoring me and helping me grow. Tufts has a very special type of coach and player. You can not help but see the Jumbo spirit in each of them."

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