Calling out to players mid-drill with confidence and moving across the field with the ease of someone with years of practice, current student-athletes and graduates from Mercy University have brought high level playing experience to Masters’ athletics in their roles as coaches. Not long ago, they were the ones in high school, learning the same skills that they are now leading. These coaches have turned their college training into hands-on coaching, helping Masters teams, such as field hockey, lacrosse, basketball and soccer, improve. 

When Logan Condon became Masters’ Director of Athletics in 2019, he saw an opportunity to collaborate with local universities to improve the School’s athletic programs. Prior to Condon’s arrival, there were only one or two alumni from Mercy coaching at Masters, but it really wasn’t until the 2021-22 school year that they made a conscious effort to add more. He reached out and visited Mercy University, Manhattanville University and Pace University, looking to establish a relationship that could benefit both sides. Mercy proved to be the strongest fit and had eager student-athletes who were interested in collaborating. 

Condon said, “Our students learn from current or former athletes who know the game, have played at a high level and can share their experiences.” 

For the 2024-25 athletic season, there are eight Mercy coaches in the fall, three during the winter and five during the spring who are either students or alumni.

One of the biggest challenges is managing the coaches’ availability. Some coaches are still playing on their college teams or have classes, so it can be difficult to balance their schedule between their university and coaching commitments.

Others, like Gianna Mott, who coaches both lacrosse and basketball, no longer competes in lacrosse so she can dedicate more time to coaching. Moving forward, Condon hopes to recruit more former college athletes who have the experience but fewer scheduling conflicts. 

One example is Olivia Maute, who graduated from Mercy in 2024 with a degree in Health Science after playing goalie for Mercy women’s lacrosse team all four years. Now, back at Mercy, she is pursuing her Masters’ in Occupational therapy. Also, she has been an assistant coach at Masters for three years, helping with both the swim and lacrosse teams at the middle and high school levels.

Maute first heard about Masters from a teammate at Mercy during her junior year. “She had been coaching the soccer and lacrosse teams and knew they were looking for a swim coach,” Maute said. “After coaching the swim team in the winter, I was so excited to stick around at Masters in the spring for the lacrosse season.”

 Senior Lydia Chioffi has had Maunte as her coach on the swim team. 

She said, “It is so easy to relate to her because she knows what we are balancing and is often balancing the same things.” 

The Mercy coaches have also become a part of the Masters community and participate in events outside of coaching. Many of them show up to support Masters athletes during other sports games, even ones they don’t coach, or eat meals with students in the dining hall after practices and games. 

Condon said. “You see them everywhere, not just at practices or games, but cheering on the kids they coach in other aspects of their lives. That’s what makes this partnership special.”

Even though Condon is moving on from Masters this year, he believes that the relationship between Masters and Mercy will continue. He said, “We have a good relationship with the Mercy Athletics Department; they frequently refer their athletes to us, and current coaches often refer their peers as well.”