Andrew Bartlett, head coach of the boys cross country team and a math teacher on the Island, has lived and breathed athletics for more than 40 years. As a high school student, he exceled in middle- and long-distance events as well as the high jump and triple jump, earning strong results at county and state competitions in Connecticut. At the collegiate level, he competed in three Division III national championships in cross country and track & field while at Hamilton College, continuing to sharpen his natural abilities. Post-collegiately, Bartlett turned his focus to the marathon, completing more than 50 races at that distance. His accomplishments include being part of a club team that won the Boston Marathon, finishing in the top 100 himself, and coming close to qualifying for the U.S. Olympic Trials. 

Drawing from this wealth of experience, Bartlett has dedicated himself to helping Loomis Chaffee student-athletes achieve success of their own. Under his guidance, runners have earned All-Founders League and All-New England Prep honors, and his mentorship continues to support alumni as they transition to the challenges of collegiate athletics. 

What’s your coaching “why”? What keeps you coming back each season? 

I can’t run very fast anymore, but it’s awesome to help kids reach their potential. I also love the “chess game” of cross country and track. There’s a lot more strategy to these sports than people realize. 

Do you have a motto or mantra you share with your athletes? 

Yes, I have two:  

Know it here (pointing to the brain) and feel it here (pointing to the heart).  

Not my way, not your way, not our way, but the right way! 

Who were the coaches or mentors who influenced you the most? 

Jim “Grim” Wilson and my time as a camp counselor. Grim and I coached JV hockey together, and at camp everything turned into a fun competition. Those mentors made sports exciting, and I want my athletes to feel that same joy in competing. 

How do you build leadership within your team? 

By putting responsibility in the team’s hands. Athletes decide who earns the weekly “Gritty” shirt, which charity the team will support, and who will take younger teammates to dinner. Leadership grows when they make choices and work together. 

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from your athletes? 

To be relaxed. If a coach is too tense or yells, athletes don’t hear anything. You can bring intensity, but you have to stay composed. 

How do you handle setbacks or losses? 

Life is full of setbacks; you just have to roll with them. We all want to win, but sometimes kids get hurt or another team is stronger. We focus on what we can control and let the rest go. Nobody goes undefeated in life, so it’s important to move forward. 

What’s your proudest moment as a coach at Loomis? 

I’ve been fortunate to coach some very fast athletes, but the proudest moments are when someone surprises themselves. I’ll never forget when a boy broke 30 minutes in the 5K for the first time. He was so excited [that] it brought tears to my eyes. Seeing [then-junior] Alex Fisher earn All-American honors last year was another highlight. It’s always about athletes discovering what they’re capable of.  

Has there been a player or team that surprised you in a memorable way? 

Reed Harlow ’96. He did everything right and went on to finish second in New England. 

How do you measure success beyond the scoreboard? 

When athletes come back or reach out often. Those continued connections mean more than any record. 

What do you enjoy most about coaching at Loomis? 

This is the place where I can have the most impact. Students can really see their growth here, and that’s incredibly rewarding. 

What’s something about you your athletes might not know? 

I used to do a lot of waterskiing. 

How do you see your sport changing in the next decade? 

With increasing specialization, fewer kids may try cross country or track. 

What advice would you give to a young coach just starting out? 

Don’t be a yeller. Be patient. Athletes can’t hear you if you’re shouting. Just let them run and be proud of them.