Citing his duties as both the assistant principal at the Masconomet Regional Middle School and as the father to a 1-year-old daughter, Andrew Boepple has made the decision to step down as Masconomet’s boys varsity hockey coach after four seasons.
“I’m really going to miss it. Coaching is something I’ve done for a really long time, and it’s been a huge part of my life. And getting to coach where I went to high school and played (Class of 2004) was a dream of mine,” said Boepple.
“But I think having kids changes your perspective. I felt that this past season I was being pulled in a lot of different directions, and I realize that I don’t have the time to give the hockey program that it deserves.”
The 40-year-old Boepple saw that being away from the rink and clearing his head over the summer allowed him to come to that ultimate decision. Even then, he admitted, it was hard when he had to admit to himself it was the right decision.
“I don’t know that I’m done with coaching forever,” he admitted, “but for right now, I need to prioritize my family (his wife Alex and daughter Layla) and my job and take a step back.”
An extremely young Masconomet team that was beset by injuries last winter finished 2-18. Prior to that, Boepple’s teams had gone a combined 30-34 in his first three seasons, making the state tournament all three years. His 2023-24 squad went on a strong postseason run as the No. 15 seed, beating Hopkinton in overtime (5-4) and upsetting the defending state champions, second seeded Canton (4-2) in the second round before dropping a 3-1 decision at Duxbury in the Division 2 state quarterfinals.
A former Chieftains’ goaltender who went on to the University of Vermont (and played club hockey there), Boepple had spent a decade with the Chieftains before becoming head coach for the 2022-23 season. He had worked as an assistant for former head man Andrew Jackson for 10 years.
Prior to that, Boepple had served as both an assistant coach, then head coach, of the Masconomet girls hockey program for three seasons from 2011-13. He even spent one winter as the girls’ interim head coach while also assisting Jackson.
Cutting his coaching teeth at Georgetown High as an assistant boys lacrosse coach for four years starting in 2009, he matriculated to the Royals’ varsity head coach in that sport from 2013-17. From there he moved on to his alma mater — Boepple was a standout midfielder during his playing days for the Chieftains — and served as head coach from 2018-21.
He will remain the junior varsity golf coach at Masconomet.
Boepple’s replacement will become just the sixth Masconomet boys hockey head coach in the last 55 seasons.
“It’s hard to turn your brain off during hockey season, even when you’re at home and not around the rink. There’s always something you think you could be doing to help better the team,” said Boepple. “So the coaching part of it, I’m really going to miss that a lot.
“But I need to be able to give it my all when I’m at work, and be present and be a good dad when I’m at home. That’s why I made the choice I did.”
Contact Phil Stacey
@PhilStacey_SN