Coach Frost Departs Cardigan After 19 Years

Hal Gartner Appointed Interim AD

After 19 years of dedicated service to Cardigan Mountain School, Athletic Director and Head Lacrosse Coach Ryan Frost P’25 will depart to become the Athletic Director at Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. Head of School Chris Day P’12,’13 has named Head Football and Wrestling Coach Hal Gartner as the school’s Interim Athletic Director.

Since arriving on The Point, Coach Frost has been a steady presence in the lives of hundreds of Cardigan boys. As a coach, mentor, dorm parent, and parent, he has modeled the values at the heart of a Cardigan education: hard work, resilience, and sportsmanship. His leadership has shaped the school’s athletic program in lasting ways, strengthening not only the competitive experience of Cardigan teams but also the character-building purpose behind the program.

Addressing the community during the Baccalaureate Ceremony in May, Coach Frost shared what his time at Cardigan has meant to him. “We are all passing through this amazing place, which we are lucky to call home: students, faculty, staff, and community friends,” he said. “We are all stewards and keepers of the Cardigan Way. It is our responsibility to live, learn, and pass on to others the ideas, traditions, and the unique time and place that make our time on The Point so special and impactful in everyone’s life.”

During the same ceremony, colleague and friend Matt Rinkin P’28 reflected on Coach Frost’s lasting impact. “Ryan has been a rock for this community,” Mr. Rinkin said. “Through changing times, evolving students, and the everyday demands of school life, he has led the athletic program with passion, commitment, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. He has set the highest bar—for his athletes, for his coaches, and for the school as a whole.”

Under Coach Frost’s guidance, Cardigan athletics have continued to thrive as an essential part of the school’s mission. Generations of Cougars have learned from him what it means to compete with toughness and grace, to put the team first, and to carry themselves with integrity on and off the field.

“Ryan has given Cardigan 19 years of loyalty and heart,” said Head of School Chris Day. “He has been a mentor to our student-athletes, a trusted colleague, and a steward of our core values. We will miss him, but we are excited for him to pursue his next chapter. He leaves with our deepest gratitude and very best wishes.”

Cardigan Mountain School thanks Coach Frost for nearly two decades of service and congratulates him on this well-earned opportunity.