Ethel Walker School
Coaches
Dr. Ned Edwards P'07, '10
Erin Ott
Dustin Huo
Nicole Sellew
Sam Hotchkiss
Chris Hague
Coach
Chris Hague has coached endurance sports including running, swimming, and triathlon for 12 years at a variety of levels. Chris has his Certified Personal Trainer certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and his L1 Nutrition Coaching certification from Precision Nutrition. Outside of school, Chris is a competitive runner, duathlete, and triathlete.
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Brett Benzio
Brett Benzio hails from sunny South Florida where she was a multi-sport athlete in high school. In her four years at Jensen Beach High School, Brett was a state champion in basketball and volleyball – winning the State Tournament MVP in volleyball and Player of the Year in both basketball and volleyball as a senior. JBHS inducted Brett into their hall of fame in 2013.
Abigail Barrett
Nilda Legassa P'23
Ken Hyne
Ken Hyne has played and head coached men’s fast pitch softball and girls’ and women’s fast pitch softball for over 25 years. He loves teaching the game to the athletes, working with the parents on the role they can play in working with their children, and watching steady improvement from the very young age to when they are ready to play in college. He focuses on teaching not only the skills necessary to maximize their potential but to also understand the game as if they are a coach on the field. Coach Hyne is passionate about relating the game of softball to athletes’ everyday lives and relationships outside the white lines. Over 100 athletes he has coached have played in college at all levels. He takes the most pride in watching each of his teams become significantly better by year end.
While currently the Varsity Head Softball Coach at The Ethel Walker School, Coach Hyne started the first Gold team in the first travel softball organization he was affiliated with, and has coached in both high-level travel programs and at the little league level. He believes every student has hidden inner talent and his goal is to have them reach the potential they set out to accomplish while striving for their “One Moment In Time.” Coach Hyne has coached travel while holding down senior management positions which previously prevented him from coaching in high school and college, but now that he has retired from the full-time corporate world, he wants to fully commit to bringing his love and passion for the game of softball to as many athletes and families as possible.
Coach Hyne is married to his wife, Lynne, with two beautiful daughters, two amazing grandchildren, all of whom reside in Connecticut, and our current forever dog, Jazzy. He played college baseball at Drew University having started every game in his four years there. He is a huge fan of just about all sports, with his favorites being softball, baseball, and college basketball, with a preference for the UConn Women’s Huskies. A fun fact is that Coach Hyne has completed 12 marathons, including the New York City Marathon five times.
Rachel Feldman
Jill Mountford
Jill Mountford joined Walker’s in the fall of 2023 as head coach of the varsity team and head of the Walker’s lacrosse program. Prior to Walker’s, Coach Mountford was the head lacrosse coach and assistant soccer coach at Gann Academy. Coach Mountford also coaches at the club level for Nor’easter Lacrosse and has previously coached with 3d New England for numerous years. She has a USA Lacrosse Gold Coaching Certification. As a player, she was a First-Team All-State defender in 2018 and 2019. Coach Mountford’s approach to coaching centered around a team-first mentality, where players combine creativity, skill development, trust, and lacrosse IQ to make decisions on the field.
Brett Benzio
Brett Benzio has coached basketball for the past 10 years with stints in the college level at Harvard and the University of Vermont. At the NEPSAC level, Brett has coached at the New Hampton School (Class AA) and Lawrence Academy (Class B). She has reached postseason play in every season as a NEPSAC head coach. She has placed players at the collegiate level at the following schools: Miami University, University of Central Florida, Bryant, Saint Anselm’s, Goldey Beacom, Howard, Manhattan College, UNC, Wake Forest, Lafayette, and Union.
Jill Mountford
Rachel Feldman
Rachel Feldman played volleyball (setter/libero/defensive specialist) for both her high school and for several club teams in the Illinois/Wisconsin region. She continues to compete in indoor and beach leagues, and loves to play anytime she can. She coached volleyball for several years at the junior varsity and varsity levels.
Colleen Kinkade
Randall Shō Northrop
Colin R. Griggs
Ashley Bonet
Colin R. Griggs
Coach Colin R. Griggs entered the coaching ranks at Walker’s during the fall of 2022 when he took on the role of Head Coach for both the varsity soccer and squash programs. In 2023, Walker’s won the WWNEPSSA Class C title and Griggs was named CT Prep School Coach of the Year, and during the fall of 2024, Griggs was at the helm when Walker’s won their first NEPSAC tournament game en route to the semifinals. In the winter of 2024, the squash team won the NEPSAC Class E title. Prior to arriving at Walker’s, Griggs spent time as the head coach of the Black Rock FC Residential Academy team at High Mowing School from 2019 to 2021 and was at Hebron Academy from 2010 to 2019. At Hebron, Griggs coached over 400 athletic contests in soccer, basketball and tennis and reached the NEPSAC Final in all three sports over the course of those nine years. As a coach, Griggs is an enthusiastic supporter of his athletes and tries to always find the best opportunities for them to succeed both on and off the fields and courts. During his playing career, Griggs played both soccer and tennis at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. From a personal standpoint, Griggs has attended five World Cups and is an avid Liverpool FC fan. He grew up in Guilford, Connecticut and now resides on campus with his wife, Sarah, and two sons, Raleigh and Henry.
Karim Mabrouk
Coach Karim Mabrouk is an experienced swim coach with a passion for developing athletes both in and out of the water. With 17 years of coaching experience, Karim has worked with swimmers of all ages and skill levels, from beginners mastering the basics to competitive athletes striving for personal bests at the national level of USA Swimming.
Coach Mabrouk, a former Division I swimmer and Water-Polo player at Iona College, has a deep understanding of what it takes for each swimmer to get to the next level, whatever that next level may be for each particular athlete. Upon completing his collegiate athletic journey, Karim took on the sport of triathlon both as a triathlete and a triathlon coach. He helped found the Tunisian Triathlon National Team. He also participated in a number of International triathlon events, which were highlighted by his gold medal finish in the Arab Cup and 2nd place finish among African triathletes at the African Cup in 2015.
Known for his motivational coaching style, technical expertise, and dedication to fostering a positive team environment, Karim empowers swimmers to reach their full potential. A strong advocate for fun discipline, goal-setting, and sportsmanship, Karim is committed to nurturing not only skilled athletes but also help all his swimmers develop into confident and well-rounded individuals.
Melissa Bernardo
Karim Mabrouk
Bethany Davis
Bethany Davis played golf at the collegiate level where she played under the direction of LPGA Teaching Professional Laura Brown at Daytona State College and continued her collegiate career with LPGA Teaching Professional Maria Lopez at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where she was named the NAIA Region XIV Player of the Year as well as the Florida Sun Conference Player of the Year, becoming the first Eagle to claim each award. While in college, Bethany’s summers were spent helping teach junior golfers at the Jim Tennant Jr. golf camps at Westwoods Golf Course in Farmington. Bethany has also spent many years working in the golf industry at private country clubs such as Sugar Mill Country Club in New Smyrna Beach, Florida and Heathrow Country Club in Heathrow, Florida, where she was able to work with members such as PGA Tour Players Chris DiMarco and Zach Johnson (before and after he won The Masters). Bethany is the College Counseling Administrative Assistant and also serves as an Upper School co-advisor.
Ben Barker
Coach Barker joined Walker’s for the 2014 season after coaching in the Simsbury Soccer Club for seven years. In most recent years, he has held simultaneous Head Coach positions in both Travel and Recreational leagues, winning a CJSA League Champions title. He holds the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association’s State Youth Module and State E coaching certificates.
Coach Barker is a graduate from the University of East Anglia in England in Environmental Sciences and is a lifelong advocate and player of the “beautiful game.” He encourages a love of soccer in all players irrespective of skill level, and uses soccer to promote confidence and self-esteem in individuals. His players learn to appreciate the benefits of belonging to a group where teamwork is paramount and all team members are important.
Mimi Duran P'18
Mimi Duran has over 30 years of coaching experience, both in independent and public schools, and began her tenure at Walker’s in fall 2007 leading an aggressive field hockey effort, winning seven CISAC League Titles, six CISAC Tournament Titles, and the Class C WNEPSAC Championship Title in 2010, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Her teams have appeared in the NEPSCA Field Hockey Tournament in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. In April of 2020 she was chosen to receive the Founders League Nadal Sportsmanship Award.
She holds a Connecticut Coaching Certification, Level 2 United States Field Hockey Association (USFHA) Coaching Certification, and is a member of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (USFHA), the Connecticut Field Hockey Coaches Association, and a USFHA NEXUS coach. Duran has taken teams to the National Field Hockey Festival and traveled with teams to play in Europe and South America. Several of her former players have earned All-State and Regional All-American recognition. Many played and captained Division I, II, and III field hockey at the collegiate level. Several alumnae have pursued coaching and coach at the high school and collegiate level.
In addition to her coaching duties, Mimi Duran is Associate Athletic Director. She holds a Master’s degree in Professional Sports Management from Georgetown University.
Gretchen Sonju
Gretchen Sonju is a teacher in Avon, head U16 Coach at Mohawk Mountain in northwest Connecticut, and co-director of summer ski camps at Leadchangeracing. As a racer, she competed in Tri-State, USSA, and FIS and raced at Saint Michael’s College. Coach Sonju ran a division of the Missoula Ski Education Foundation in Montana before moving back east to Maine, where she coached the Falmouth High School team and ran the Shawnee Peak race program and adaptive programs. She is USSA Level 200 certified.
Carol Clark-Flanagan P'93, '97
Dr. Ned Edwards P'07, '10
Ned joined the coaching staff for the spring 2021 season as the assistant in the Varsity Tennis program. Coach Edwards is the Executive Director of the Capabilities Approach Program, Walker’s unique program dedicated to disrupting gendered mindsets and empowering girls to achieve their personal and professional goals. He has previously coached Varsity and JV Tennis and general fitness. Coach Edwards also teaches Ethics, World Religions, and English and is an Upper School advisor.
Brendan O'Dwyer
Coach O’Dwyer helped to coach the Varsity Tennis team to the NEPSAC tournament in the 2017-2018 season. In addition to coaching tennis, Coach O’Dwyer also teaches in the History Department and serves as an Upper School advisor.
Brendan O'Dwyer
Coach O’Dwyer helped to lead Walker’s Skii Team to three NEPSAC titles from 2017-2019. Coach O’Dwyer teaches in the History Department and serves as an Upper School advisor.
Julia Sheldon
Julia Sheldon has been swimming her entire life and at this point probably has more chlorine in her veins than anything else. She swam competitively from elementary through high school and her swim career culminated with a top eight finish in the 100 backstroke at the Central California Sectional meet during her senior year. Outside of coaching, Dr. Sheldon serves as a teacher in the science department and is an upper school advisor.
Mimi Duran P'18
Assistant Coach
Mimi Duran has 30 years of coaching experience in independent and public schools and holds a Connecticut Coaching Certification. She has coached, organized, and led town basketball leagues and tournaments. She began coaching middle school basketball in the winter of 2008-2009. Since then the team has found much success which includes three undefeated seasons, winning the Mooreland Hill Basketball Tournament, and receiving the Sportsmanship Award at the same tournament, as voted by coaches participating in the tournament.
Coach Duran believes that participation and skill-building are the keys to a successful middle school team. Emphasis is given to facilitating team relationships, which is the foundation for a social and emotional learning environment. The athletes learn to appreciate teamwork and understand that hard work and perseverance lead to success. The players learn how to work with coaches and to respect referees, opponents, peers, and themselves.
Coach Duran is also Varsity Field Hockey Coach and Associate Athletic Director. She holds a Master’s degree in Professional Sports Management from Georgetown University.
John Monagan
Coach John Monagan enters his 14th year coaching the Varsity Softball team as either the head or assistant coach. Throughout his years at Walker’s, the team has won two Western New England titles and has made the tournament in multiple seasons. Coach Monagan teaches history, is an Upper School advisor and dorm affiliate, and is also the Varsity Basketball head coach.
John Monagan
Coach John Monagan is in his 18th year in the Walker’s basketball program. During his years at Walker’s, he has led the Varsity team to the NEPSAC Class C tournament five times. His philosophy centers around playing fast and having a strong offensive attack. In his playing years, Coach Monagan led his prep school basketball team to two New England Championships.
Megan Mulhern
Chris Semk