Hatt to coach Colonels

Mike Hatt, who recently coached Springfield High School to a state football championship, was named head coach of the Brattleboro Union High School football team.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100323/SPORTS/3230356

Published March 23, 2010 in the Rutland Herald

Hatt to coach Colonels

By POODY WALSH Herald Correspondent

SPRINGFIELD — Mike Hatt, who came home to Springfield 15 years ago, is on the road again, taking the head football coaching position and driver's education teaching post at Brattleboro Union High School.

Hatt, who resigned from coaching Cosmos' football after this past season, said the main reason for the switch was to get away from the time-consuming athletic director's responsibilities.

"It was a win-win situation at Springfield," Hatt said. "But the time it takes to be at all the athletic events and scheduling meetings was a bit too much. Not that football is not time consuming, but Sherry and I are looking forward to some time for ourselves. People don't understand the commitment it is to being an athletic director. I really want to get back to just teaching and coaching. It was time to go in a different direction."

Hatt said that he would continue to live in Springfield for the time being, mentioning that wife Sherry's father, Richie Wyman, and his parents are still in Springfield.

Hatt grew up in Springfield and played baseball, basketball and football for the Cosmos. After graduating from Springfield College, he coached and taught physical education at Stevens High School in Claremont, N. H., returning to Springfield High School in 1995. He has coached varsity basketball and football at Springfield, his 2008 football team winning the Division III championship.

"The football program at Springfield is in good shape with Jack Cohun coming on," Hatt said.

Hatt added that when he resigned from the Springfield football job it was not with the intention of taking the Brattleboro position.

"This just came up later," he said of the Brattleboro opening.

The Brattleboro football job has been a state of flux as the Colonels began last season with Bill Miller as the head coach, but he resigned for personal reasons after six games. Assistant coach Chris Pratt was the interim coach the rest of the season for a team that finished at 2-7.

Hatt was a student teacher in Brattleboro in 1982 and taught driver's education in that community in the summers of 2006-2008.

"I know Brattleboro is coming off a tough season," Hatt told the Brattleboro Reformer. " However, I think that all of the ingredients are there to succeed"

Brattleboro Athletic Director Chris Sawyer says that while last season was not a smooth one, the football staff has pretty much stayed together and players have been working the weight room.

"I think there's some talent here and I think Mike is up to the challenge," Sawyer said. "He's a quality person and I'm sure he will do a quality job."

Brattleboro plays in Division I and has added Middlebury to its schedule after Mt. St. Joseph moved to Division III.

Hatt to coach Colonels

Brattleboro Reformer Staff • Thursday March 18, 2010

BRATTLEBORO -- Mike Hatt, who recently coached Springfield High School to a state football championship, was named head coach of the Brattleboro Union High School football team. He will also be the new driver education teacher at BUHS.

"I know that Brattleboro is coming off of a tough season," said Hatt, who is currently the athletic director at Springfield High. "I think that all of the things are there that you need to succeed. I think the ingredients are there."

William Miller began last season as the Colonels' head coach, but resigned for personal reasons after the first six games. Chris Pratt was the interim coach down the stretch and BUHS ended up with a 2-7 mark.

Brattleboro principal James Day was very pleased with the addition of Mike Hatt as both a member of the school faculty and with his experience as a head football coach, and is confident that his attributes will be evident both in the classroom and on the football field.

BUHS Athletic Director Chris Sawyer expressed confidence in Hatt throughout the search process.

"We're excited. We had some excellent applicants. Mike understands the qualities of a successful program. He brings experience, knowledge of Vermont football, and is committed to making sure that our football program will be respected as one of the best football programs in the state."

Hatt is a native of Springfield, where he was a three-sport athlete. He went on to play football and earn a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1982. After coaching from 1984-1990 at Stevens High School in Claremont, N.H., he returned to Springfield High School in 1995 as both head football and basketball coach. His Springfield teams made consecutive state championship appearances in 2008 and 2009, winning the Division 3 title in 2008.

"I'm familiar with the school and the driver's ed program," said Hatt, who did some student teaching at BUHS in 1982 and taught driver's ed in Brattleboro during the summers of 2006-2008.

The search for a new varsity football coach began in November of 2009. Hatt's appointment as head football coach will begin immediately and he plans to meet with the players soon.