Phil Variano Named to Ivy Preparatory School League Hall Of Fame

Hackley School is excited to announce that Phil Variano will be the third coach from Hackley School inducted into the Ivy Preparatory School League Hall of Fame in June.

Phil joined the Hackley community in 1980 as an English and Psychology teacher and a three-sport coach. Within a year of his arrival to Hackley, he moved to coach Girls' Varsity Soccer, taking over the Boys' Varsity team in 1982. Along with alumni Stephen Field '83 and Andy Seibert '82, Phil helped to create the Boys' Squash program in 1982. He also took on roles as a baseball and softball coach.

​In Phil's time as a Boys' Varsity Soccer head coach, his teams went 82-17-6, winning four Ivy Championships in seven short years. In 1989, Phil took his skills into administration and unfortunately stepped down in his roles on varsity level teams. However, in 2005, the administration on the Hilltop wanted a stronger foundation for its Middle School teams, and Phil volunteered to take a role. For the rest of his 15 years at Hackley, Phil coached three seasons of Middle School sports while acting as an Associate Head of School. 

​Phil is the epitome of what we want on the Hilltop. His foresight to support a squash program that now boasts one of the largest programs and facilities in the northeast, and his willingness to and love for coaching helped to build the foundation of what Hornets Athletics stand for today. Phil's dedication to the school—41 years as an employee, with 28 of those years as the Assistant Headmaster/Associate Head of School and 37 years as a coach—is truly remarkable and unmatched.

​Congratulations, Phil!
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