Fall Sports

A West Hartford native and Loomis Chaffee School graduate, Lisa Roberts attended St. Joseph University and then UConn for graduate school.  At Watkinson, she teaches English and is in our Learning Skills Program.  An assistant to both cross country and track, Coach Roberts is also an avid tennis player and has been a runner for the past 20 years, completing 20 half marathons and one full.  Coach Roberts is mom to Nick (grade 10) and Caroline (grade 8), who both attend Watkinson.

Chris is an avid, life-long runner who has competed at racing distances from 1,500 meters to the half marathon. He is excited to have the opportunity to pass along his experience and knowledge of this sport to Watkinson’s student athletes.

He earned a Master of Arts in Economics from Trinity College and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Keene State College. His prior professional background included 30-plus years working in a variety of credit analyst and capital management/corporate finance roles within the financial services industry.

Chris currently lives in West Hartford with his wife, Kathy, and their two college-age sons, Ben and Matt. In his free time, he enjoys running, hiking, and cross-country skiing with his family.

A native of West Hartford, Connecticut, Dan is beginning his first year as an assistant director of Admissions at Watkinson. Prior to working at Watkinson, Dan served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at the collegiate level for three years, most recently at Mount Saint Mary College. At Watkinson, he will be the head coach for both the middle school coed cross country team and the JV boys basketball team (upper school). Dan attended Newbury College where he was a 4-year letter winner for the men’s basketball team and was named a team captain senior year. Dan is currently pursuing an M.S from the University of Hartford in Organizational Psychology. Dan self-published a basketball leadership book on Amazon called, “Help Them Up”. He truly believes in creating a championship culture environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and has a voice! Dan has a twin brother who serves as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Hobart College.

The head coach for girls varsity volleyball and varsity track, Coach Marilyn Tomlinson is a native of Jamaica who now lives in West Hartford with her husband, and daughter. She works as an administrator at the Futures School. Coach Tomlinson attended the G.C. Foster Physical Education and Sport College in Jamaica, where she played volleyball, basketball, track and field, netball and field hockey. After graduating from college, she was chosen to play on the Jamaican national volleyball team. She coached a variety of high school sports in Jamaica, including, netball, track & field, volleyball, and field hockey, guiding her volleyball and netball teams to the regional and national finals. Coach Tomlinson is still an active volleyball player today.

We welcome Coach Danny White to the sidelines of the boys varsity soccer program in 2021. A native of England, Coach White comes to Watkinson with a wealth of soccer coaching experience across Connecticut and beyond. Most recently, he has been on staff with Farmington Sports Arena Football Club (FSA). In addition, Coach White worked intensively with the Evolution Soccer Programs “EVO” in Connecticut and California. Coach White is passionate about coaching youth soccer and brings a positive vision to the Watkinson boys program.

Coach Reese grew up playing football, basketball and baseball in central Nebraska, participating in all three for Grand Island Senior High. He began coaching at a young age for youth teams in his hometown, and continued to play competitively at different levels while at Middlebury College in Vermont. He coached the 2006 Vergennes girls soccer team to a state title in 2006 while student teaching before moving to Washington, D.C. There, while working at The Field School, he coached soccer, basketball and baseball at the varsity level, winning a combined five PVAC championships and coaching three PVAC Players of the Year. He currently is an assistant coach for the boys soccer team here at Watkinson and previously served as the head coach for our boys varsity basketball squad. Watkinson’s Head of the Upper School, Coach Reese plays in adult soccer and basketball leagues, is an avid runner and triathlete and is always down for some competition.

In her fifth year at Watkinson, Anna Alferi serves as both the head coach for girls middle school basketball and the assistant coach for the girls’ Varsity team. She grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and was a three sport athlete playing soccer, basketball, and softball. Coach Alferi played on the 2009 Bacon Academy High School girls’ basketball state championship team, and was co-captain of the 2011 Hall High School basketball team. She attended the University of Tampa, graduating in three years, and immediately began as a high school English teacher at Plant High school in Tampa, Florida. At Plant High school she was the assistant girls’ Varsity basketball coach for two seasons. Returning to Connecticut, she taught and coached at Grace Academy. At Watkinson she has coached a range of activities and sports including soccer, basketball, fitness, and outdoor games.