Jason Coulombe Appointed Athletic Director

Head of School Mike Hirschfeld has appointed Jason Coulombe as Athletic Director. A dedicated educator and coach with more than 25 years of experience in independent school education, Coach Coulombe brings strong leadership and a deep commitment to student growth.

“As I head into my 18th year at Kent, I’m excited to take on this important responsibility and help move our athletics program forward,” said Coach Coulombe. “Athletics offer us a powerful opportunity to shape a positive, character-driven culture among our student-athletes, while also showcasing the strength of our community through healthy, competitive play.”

At Kent, he has supported more than 140 student leaders annually through his work with the Kent Leadership Initiative (KLI), which is grounded in a servant leadership model. He also founded the Kent Athletics Leadership Council (KALC), a program that unites varsity captains for ongoing leadership development—a role he will continue to play.

His impact is evident in his decade-long tenure as head coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team from 2008 to 2018, during which he led the team to a NEPSAC championship and recorded the most wins in the league’s large-school division over that period.

In 2020, he returned to coaching as the head of the girls’ varsity basketball program. Under his leadership, the team has qualified for the NEPSAC Class A Tournament every year, including a finals appearance in 2023–2024 and the semifinals in 2024–2025. 

That commitment will carry into his new role as Athletic Director, where he will continue coaching the girls’ varsity team and teaching in the Community Life Department. He looks forward to collaborating with students, coaches, faculty, alumni, parents, and trustees to strengthen the athletics program.

“There’s nothing I look forward to more than supporting, challenging, and engaging with our athletes and coaches,” he shared. “We have a lot of important work ahead of us, but I’m confident in our ability to accomplish great things together.”

His philosophy is grounded in the belief that athletics are central to the student experience at Kent. He aims to strengthen Kent Athletics by fostering a culture of character and accountability, supporting the coaches, enhancing program competitiveness, and building a top-tier, student-centered athletics organization.

 “Students have real agency in how they engage with athletics here,” he explained. “In most cases, our athletes form deep, meaningful connections that are difficult to replicate elsewhere on campus. Through those experiences, they discover purpose, build lasting relationships, and cultivate habits that strengthen mind, body, and spirit. Joy is also at the heart of life at Kent, and few places capture that joy more vividly than our athletic arenas.”

With the new athletic year approaching, Coach Coulombe is energized by the opportunity to lead.

“I’m tremendously excited about what lies ahead,” he said. “We’re ready to build on our strong foundation and continue elevating Kent Athletics in ways that reflect our values and bring our community together.”