One of the biggest changes this year at BGA has been everyone’s favorite baseball coach and Econ teacher becoming our new Dean of Students! I, like many of my classmates, was curious about how the transition has been for Coach Hackett. So, enjoy this interview, which is a combination of some of my own questions and questions asked by the student body – no questions were off the table.
What made you want to be Dean? – Amelia Cavin
“Honestly, it never even crossed my mind. I’ve always enjoyed coaching and teaching, but I never really thought about administration. We started talking about the position and its impact and the involvement with all of the BGA students, and the overall school culture piece. What really drew me in was talking about student involvement and engagement.”
What’s the main difference you’ve experienced as a Dean rather than a coach or teacher? -Liz Napier
“I think the biggest difference is you get a behind the scenes view of why we’re doing what we’re doing with different policies. Even when we explain a policy, you never see the interworking and all the work that’s led to that decision, so being a part of the discussions about what we’re trying to accomplish is different. I’m also a lot more busy.”
How do you balance personal and work life? – Jake Bertorello
“It’s tough, it’s always been a challenge for me. I’ve always been a workaholic, and I get super involved and want to do the best I can. I’ve tried to create a separation between what happens here and not carrying it home. I’ve got lots of little ones running around the house, and I spend lots of time up here. Honestly, the only way I can balance it is that my wife is an absolute saint, and makes it to where I can do it.”
What’s it like being a part of the bounce-back on BGA student life after COVID? – Jackson Rowley
“The biggest piece is that almost no one really remembers what it was like pre-COVID. We’re kind of re-imagining what BGA student life is, because things have changed so much that student life that it can’t just go back to what it was. I’ve been working a lot with Ms. Lambert on reenvisioning what we want BGA student life to be.”
How turnt do you get on a daily basis? – Tre Williams
“I don’t… What does that mean? I honestly don’t know how to answer that, I’m sorry.”
If you could build any building on campus for any purpose, what would it be? – Trace Alexander
“Probably a new dining room. I think the time we share together there is special, and the atmosphere should match that.”
If you could have anyone play you in a movie, who would it be?
“Robert Redford as his character in The Natural or if I’m supposed to be funny, Jim Carey.”
Do you think zombies are fast or slow?
[thoughtful silence]
“I feel like they’d take on the abilities of whoever they infected, so you’re probably going to have some that are fast and some that are slow.”
Thoughts on the Mr. Saylor incident? – literally everyone
[editor’s note: he turned BRIGHT red when I brought this up]
“Mr. Saylor and I have spent some time together, we’re in a very good place. If anyone remembers the first round where I got completely annihilated, air born even, you’ll know that I was just trying to match Mr. Saylor’s level of competitiveness. There was no ill intention behind anything that came after that. I’m sad about the whole thing, but glad that he’s going to have a full recovery. He did tell me that he had fun up until I tore his ACL, so there’s that.”
What is your best baseball moment ever? – Sophie Jones
“Playing would have to be, after I got back from an injury I was able to play for both of my grandfathers to come and watch me play. I really didn’t do a whole lot that game but having them there meant a lot to me. As a coach, I would say the Region Championship year, it was a huge moment and a culmination of a lot of efforts from a lot of people. Seeing the pure excitement and enjoyment from my guys was really great as a coach.”
What is your favorite BGA moment?
“The bonfire my first year was one of my best moments. The whole community came out, it was huge, and I loved it. To see so many people out there and supporting it was huge.”
Any parting words, words of wisdom, or advice to the tens of students that will read this?
“One of the greatest lessons, and something I’ve lived my life by is something my Dad told me. He told me, “build a legacy.” His whole thing was to make sure that what you do is done in a way that you want others to remember you by. In everything that we do, we’re making an impact. So just make sure that in everything you do, you’re building a legacy.”
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