Albert Field

As many people around the IASAS community know, this is Mr. Harold Albert’s – a.k.a. “The Legend” – last year at ISB. In honor of his many years and IASAS Events on behalf of ISB, the school has dedicated field B to him by renaming it Albert field. This was the field chosen because it is the softball field and one of the many sports that Mr. Albert has coached to gold during his coaching days.

Over the 30+ years that he has dedicated to this school, he has been able to rack up a large amount of IASAS medals with quite a bit of gold. In one year Mr. Albert was able to rack up 3 golds in a row as a coach. He began as a player in the IASAS community many years ago and is now finishing as a successful coach, teacher, and a prime example of an ISB panther.

Some of the ISB staff who have taught, coached, and befriended Mr. Albert had some things to say about why he deserved to have the field dedicated to him.

Mr. Dennis Harter (Middle School Principal): “To me, the name Harold Albert is synonymous with both IASAS and ISB Softball and has been for the past 35 years. It is absolutely fitting that his name will be associated with the game and the competition for the next 35 years. It was my privilege to coach against and with Mr. Albert. I’ve learned so much from him. His calm presence has served the Panthers well throughout his many great years here. While a colleague is leaving ISB, I know that I’ll always have my friend.”

Mr. Bob Connor (CAO Coordinator): “Harold Albert has dedicated 30+ years to ISB’s athletic program, as both a coach and as Assistant Athletic Director. His contributions to the sports teams at ISB over the years are immeasurable, as he has impacted the lives of thousands of student-athletes, both at ISB and among all the other five IASAS schools. His coaching exploits are truly “legendary,” with numerous championships and finals appearances in Touch Football, Girls Soccer and especially in Boys Softball; as he completely exemplifies the meaning of PANTHER PRIDE! “Coach” Albert is very deserving of this very special honor, as it is totally appropriate that his name lives on forever as part of the legacy of ISB Athletics! I feel honored to call him my friend!”

Mr. Cameron Macky (Math Teacher): “I feel Mr. Albert has set the standard for excellence for all ISB coaches, not only in the IASAS success he had for many years, but also in how he treated his players: with constant encouragement and gentleness and grace. He is an outstanding coach and teacher and mentor, and he richly deserves the honor.”

Mr. Conor Duffy (English Teacher): “My first coaching gig at ISB was Varsity Girls’ Soccer in 2001, with Harold Albert as my assistant.  It quickly became apparent that the man knew much more than almost anyone else I had played for, worked with, or coached with, about finding ways to get the best out of each and every athlete.  He could have fun with them, and he could be serious in team talks… but when he spoke to them one-on-one, something special happened. As if he knew they were capable of something they didn’t realize themselves… and he made them see it, and believe it.  He taught me a whole new dynamic of coaching beyond the Xs and Os that I didn’t even really know about! Pretty cool!”

Mr. Andy Vaughan (former ISB Athletic Director (2011-2016): “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” -Lao Tzu. When I think of Mr. Albert and his many years working so tirelessly in the Athletics Department, what stands out is his incredibly tireless nature in supporting so many opportunities out of the main spotlight to make them go awesome. Mr. Albert “dot’s the i’s”, “crosses the t’s” and ensures that everything is always the best it can be… all of this without wanting to be in the spotlight and to make the program go well. He truly is the Legend for all that he has done that no one really knew he was behind. It was an honor to work with him in my 5 years as AD.

Mr. Davies (Head of School): “ISB does not name parts of the campus lightly and without significant thought. However, the decision to name Field B after Mr Albert was a very simple one as his  contributions to both ISB and IASAS have been extraordinary. Mr Albert is a gifted math teacher, the most successful coach in IASAS history and an athletics administrator who has shaped both the organization and values of IASAS. For many years now, Mr Albert has been known as “the legend” in IASAS circles. He will never be surpassed and we will remain forever grateful to the great man.”

Mr. Derrick Quinet (Athletics Director) on why they chose to name the field after Mr. Albert: “Harold Albert has dedicated his career to ISB and his life to making IASAS the premier interscholastic activities conference in the world. He has been a teacher, mentor, championship coach and friend to multiple generations of Panthers. In honor of his 35 years of service and his commitment to educating through sport, ISB is thrilled to dedicate the football, touch, and soccer field (B) in his name – henceforth known as Albert Field!”