EDITOR’S NOTE: This new feature invites students from Stephanie Hartell’s journalism class at Waterford High School to be published.

As the Lancers sports teams dive into the fall season, they are accompanied by a new athletic director.

Chris Landry, a former gym teacher and lacrosse coach at Waterford High School, is looking forward to challenging the veteran coaches to “find a way to build a culture of pride and continue to grow.”

Landry’s path to the AD position began at Springfield College where he received a master’s degree in Athletic Administration before earning his Certification in Education Leadership at Sacred Heart University.

He describes these as excellent programs, emphasizing the quality of Sacred Heart’s hands-on learning. These opportunities throughout his college years taught him about leading people, budgeting, legal matters, facilities and overall management of athletics.

As a significant contributor to both youth and high school lacrosse in Waterford, Landry created the Waterford Youth Lacrosse Association shortly after moving to town. In 2007, he took over what was just a club lacrosse team at Waterford High School, and shortly after, it was named a varsity sport. Throughout the decade, his program accomplished several goals, including participating in ECC and CIAC championship games. Landry was named the 2016 and 2017 State Class S Coach of the Year.

As a coach, Landry felt that regardless of playing time, he wanted to “find different ways to make the kids feel special” and ensure that they all had a quality experience.

He adds, “For me, it was just about trying to build a culture of something special.”

Dylan Eckhart, senior lacrosse player, comments on Coach Landry’s style, saying that “He never played favorites. If you were good, you played; if you weren’t good, you didn’t.” Eckhart started varsity on one of Landry’s most successful teams.

“He was a really smart coach, and he knew the game better than everyone,” Eckhart said. “I’m gonna miss him yelling at the refs and making them look stupid because he knew the rules better than them.”

Landry’s original plan was to become a teacher, like his mother, but he knew that he saw himself becoming an athletic director at some point. When discussing these career decisions, Landry states, “I just wanted to help kids wherever I could. It’s really all about the kids.”

Landry’s priorities in the near future include senior-athlete exit surveys and increasing the use of HUDL, video analysis software that allows athletes and coaches to upload, view, and edit game film.

Still, students and athletes say they will miss seeing Landry on a day-to day basis.

“He coached us like he had a controller in a video game,” Eckhart said. “He was good after a loss. He wouldn’t ponder it or point anyone out, he would just move on to the next game.”