Bobcat Stories

We are fortunate to have eight Bosque School alumni return to campus as coaches for various sports across grade levels! We connected with a few of them to learn more about their experiences. 

Christine Phan (‘16)

Christine Phan (‘16) started coaching volleyball at Bosque School in the fall of 2020 during COVID. This is her seventh year coaching at Bosque School, her ninth season coaching Bobcats, and her ninth year coaching overall. 

“Volleyball has been such an integral part of who I am as a person, so when the opportunity arose to come back and coach, I wanted to give it a shot. I found that I loved coaching and decided to dedicate my time and energy to giving back to a program that has given me so much. I've learned a lot being on the other side of things, and how much work and effort it takes to be a coach, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It is so fun to see how dedicated the athletes are at every level, and to see how much they love volleyball.” 

Boys Volleyball had their first (and second and third wins) in program history this year! We won our first game at home against East Mountain. Girls Volleyball also had a successful season, winning against Santa Fe Indian School and even taking our rivals, Sandia Prep, to a thrilling fifth set in which one of the set scores was 33-31!

Isabelle Tandy (‘23)

Isabelle Tandy (‘23) has been coaching volleyball at Bosque School for two years. Returning to Bosque as a coach has been a meaningful experience for her, and one of her favorite parts has been giving back to a community that played such a large role in her own growth. “It's been rewarding to build relationships with the players and watch them develop both their skills and confidence over the past two seasons. One challenge I've had to navigate is shifting from being a former student to a leadership role, but it’s helped me grow in communication and responsibility.”

 

Gabe Yoder (‘23)

Gabe Yoder (‘23) started coaching soccer at Bosque School last year and has mixed feelings returning to campus as a coach. “I was super excited to start coaching, but also part of me was nostalgic. I myself miss playing soccer all the time, and that's what drives me to be a coach. I had great memories playing, and I want to share some of that with the players, and help them have as much fun as I did.” Gabe’s favorite part is finally seeing all the hard work from practice pay off in the game. Seeing the excitement from the players is very rewarding for everyone. 

This year, the middle school team was large enough for two full teams, which was exciting but also posed some logistical challenges. Luckily, with the help of head coach Rachel Hanselmann, everyone worked together to make it fun and engaging. For Gabe, the players' growth was the biggest success, given their varying skill levels: some had played before, some were starting for the first time, and some were returning to the sport. “What they all had in common was that they all grew not only as players, but also as teammates, friends, and people. One memory I will cherish and take with me is the excitement whenever we won a game all together as a team. Nothing will replace the smiles and cheers from the players and families.”

Phoebe Cooper (‘22) and Samm Williams (‘10)

Phoebe Cooper (‘22) and Samm Williams (‘10) work together to coach the Bosque School ESports team. They are two of only five female ESports coaches in the state and had great success as a team this year, earning the 3A State Championship, the most points earned overall in the state, five first-place titles, one second-place title, and one fourth-place title! 

Phoebe says her favorite part of this year (her second season as a coach) was seeing the seniors' leadership on the team. They have been on the team for many years and have had the opportunity to step into leadership roles as mentors to the new generation of players. “Building these relationships with our players and supporting them through their growth as students has been so wonderful.”