The Future of Peddie Athletics

Rich D’Andrea ’01 knows a thing or two about perseverance.

The former Peddie lacrosse captain led the 2001 team to an undefeated season and top 15 national ranking. Yet, amidst their on-field victories, the team grappled with significant challenges.

“We had teammates that struggled through the losses of family members,” recalled D’Andrea. “And while it was nearly impossible to find words to meet the situation, the brotherhood formed through that team experience had a healing quality of its own.”

In the face of adversity, D’Andrea gleaned invaluable lessons.

For him and his team, success transcended mere victories; it centered on wholehearted commitment, selflessness and solidarity. “I’m grateful for that experience because it taught me the value of relationships, how to be a leader, knowing when to speak up and when to listen,” he said.

These fundamental principles, instilled during his time at Peddie, continue to guide D’Andrea’s leadership approach today.

Since assuming the role of Peddie’s athletic director last summer, D’Andrea has been on a mission to stabilize the school’s athletic programs and strengthen its competitive edge. His appointment marks a pivotal moment for Peddie Athletics, which has faced leadership turnover and recruitment hurdles in some sports in recent years.

“Peddie unearthed the best parts of me and taught me things about myself that I had no idea existed.”

D’Andrea’s achievements extend beyond the lacrosse field. Following a stint in commercial real estate, he transitioned to Princeton Day School, where he served as an English teacher, lacrosse coach and admissions officer. He returned to Peddie in 2021 to serve as an admission officer and coach boys lacrosse. He continues to coach lacrosse and teaches English, a role he finds personally enriching.

Throughout his professional journey, Peddie has remained a constant source of inspiration for D’Andrea- where he discovered his strengths and fostered enduring relationships.

“I’ve always felt a sense of indebtedness to Peddie,” he said. “It’s where I cut my teeth and learned the importance of hard work and the value of good relationships. Peddie unearthed the best parts of me and taught me things about myself that I had no idea existed.”

Central to D’Andrea’s vision for Peddie Athletics is the principle of “Education through Athletics.” Drawing inspiration from his mentor, the late Peddie lacrosse coach Dietrich von Schwerdtner, affectionately known as “Von,” D’Andrea recounted a formative experience as a freshman in the late 1990s. D’Andrea and several students helped Von intertwine excerpts from speeches by Abraham Lincoln during a chapel presentation, weaving them into a metaphorical rope of resilience and bravery.

D’Andrea said, “Looking back, it’s clear to me that Von had been teaching the entire community- me among them- about the importance of perseverance and courage.”

While “Education through Athletics” might translate into honing individual skills or grasping tactical nuances, its essence also embodies a comprehensive approach to personal development and community engagement.

D’Andrea elaborated, “‘Education through Athletics’ may speak to the valuable lessons learned through competition, lessons we carry with us throughout life. Hard work, accountability, resiliency, time management, understanding how to contribute to a cause greater than ourselves, elevating those around us, and so on.”

Moreover, he said, it extends to navigating through profound challenges. “Sitting in sadness with a teammate that’s lost a family member, helping others or being helped by others going through depression, showing up and navigating through the darkness- together. These are the moments when I’m grateful to know there’s a rope to grab onto.”

The “Education through Athletics” philosophy serves as a unifying force for the athletics program. D’Andrea emphasized, “Having a clear and focused message to rally around creates unity within our community and it very much aligns us with the school’s core values.”

D’Andrea is optimistic about the future of Peddie Athletics, seeing it as primed for a resurgence. He recognized past challenges, and acknowledged, “We’ve had some turnover in coaching positions and with athletic directors. Consistency across a lot of our programs has been lacking.”

In response, D’Andrea and his team have initiated strategic measures to inject new vitality into the program. Leveraging partnerships with admissions and alumni networks, they are intensifying student and coaching recruitment efforts while enhancing visibility. “We’re raising our flag a little higher,” D’Andrea noted.

Embracing a balanced approach, the department nurtures individual athlete interests while encouraging students to explore new avenues. D’Andrea emphasized their philosophy: “We meet each student-athlete where they are, then gently push them beyond their comfort zones in a manner that empowers them for the future.”

Recent innovations include tailored off-season workouts for specific teams, catering to aspiring college athletes- a move that has garnered enthusiastic support from coaches and students alike. Furthermore, Peddie is investing over $7 million in upgrading its athletic facilities, which are slated for completion this fall. These enhancements include a varsity weight room, a community weight room, erging rooms for the rowing program, and a golf simulator room complemented by a nearby putting green.

A particularly gratifying aspect for D’Andrea has been the return of alumni as coaching staff, including Bridgette McKnight ’10 (basketball), Julie Sheldon ’05 (field hockey), Shannon Madden ’13 (softball) and Ethan Kibrick ’11 (lacrosse). Their presence, he said, underscores the alumni community’s deep connection and enduring commitment to Peddie Athletics.

D’Andrea highlighted recent accomplish-ments, including standout individual performances and team triumphs. “This year, we’ve witnessed exceptional feats,” he said, citing Tessa Hughes ’26’s record-breaking achievements in indoor track, Noah Payne ’24’s 2,000th career point and the boys basketball team’s victory at the PSIT. Notably, the girls tennis and boys indoor track teams secured wins in the MAPL Championships this year.

Illustrating growth areas, D’Andrea pointed to the transformation of the field hockey program under Julie Sheldon’s guidance, evolving from a modest record to noteworthy accomplishments. “If you go and watch the games, you’ll see they have a really great foundation, and you can see that growth happening in real-time,” he said. Additionally, he highlighted the boys lacrosse team’s progress, attributing it to robust underclassmen recruitment efforts.

D’Andrea reminisced about the exhilarating ambiance at the Blair Day boys JV soccer match last autumn. “There must have been around 400-500 people watching the game. People were going nuts,” he said. D’Andrea feels that such vibrant enthusiasm within Peddie’s sports community serves as a catalyst for momentum. “As success builds, we start to attract a diverse array of student-athletes to the school,” he said.

In the delicate balance between professional demands and personal fulfillment, D’Andrea finds solace and joy in family moments. Married to fellow alumna Erika Kapp ’98, with three lively boys ages 11, 9 and 6, he cherishes the joys of parenthood. “My wife is approaching sainthood for dealing with all four boys in the house,” he quipped.

D’Andrea often thinks about his close friend and mentor, Dietrich von Schwerdtner, whose wisdom influences his leadership approach. Recalling their last conversation on a bench outside the Athletic Center, D’Andrea was struck by Von’s candid response when asked about his dedication to coaching and teaching. “He responded immediately, ‘I do this because I love it. I do this because of you.'”

In this spirit, inspired by Von’s legacy, D’Andrea leads Peddie Athletics into an exciting and transformative new era, determined to make a lasting impact on the institution that has molded him into the leader he is today.