Kents Hill School Appoints Bob Coppola as Director of Athletics

Kents Hill School is thrilled to announce the appointment of Robert "Bob" Coppola as Director of Athletics, effective July 1, 2026. Bringing more than 16 years of athletic administration experience at academically rigorous institutions, Coppola joins Kents Hill from nearby Colby College, where he has served as Associate Athletic Director since 2022. 

His career includes impactful leadership roles at Ivy League and NESCAC institutions—including Brown University and Dartmouth College—where he championed an educator-coach mindset that seamlessly integrates athletic development with the broader educational experience. His proven track record of managing substantial athletic programs, cultivating community engagement, and supporting student well-being positions him ideally to lead Kents Hill's vibrant athletics and afternoon programs.

A standout student-athlete himself, Coppola earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University, where he was a four-year letter winner in football and a two-year letter winner in track and field, before going on to earn an MBA from the University of Oregon. At Colby, he successfully managed over $2 million in annual budgets across dozens of varsity and club teams while expanding the innovative Peak Performance Program—an initiative that enhanced student-athletes' holistic development by integrating physical training, mental resilience, and academic support. Grounded in a leadership philosophy centered on trust and relationship-building, Coppola is dedicated to balancing competitive excellence with broad student participation.

Reflecting on this exciting new chapter for the school's athletic department, Head of School Dr. Molly T. MacKean shared, "From our first conversations with Bob, we could sense his capacity to think and lead in both highly visionary and deeply student-centered ways. We are incredibly excited to welcome him to Kents Hill and look forward to seeing him connect and collaborate with our student-athletes, coaches, and community."

To learn more about Kents Hill School, visit www.kentshill.org.