Many students know Marisa Mclaughlin as a coach for basketball, lacrosse, football or a case manager. but some don’t know her at all. Marisa is a hard worker who strives to be her best as a coach making sure her players are confident both on and off the court. Improving and trying their best at all times. Marisa always wants her players to be mentally and physically strong. Ensuring their well-being by checking in on them and helping them as much as she can.
Marisa recently took the offer on being the junior varsity basketball coach. Marisa practices with the reserve team and helps the varsity team as well. She also coaches girls’ lacrosse for Goffstown High School and for the New Hampshire Tomahawks. In addition, she is a coach for the football team for Goffstown High School. She previously coached volleyball and ice hockey. On top of coaching many great teams she also is a case manager for some while helping many teens succeed. With doing so much, she mentioned how she finds managing time extremely challenging. She’s working to create and practice good boundaries and scheduling time into her day to take care of specific responsibilities. It is important for many reasons to balance her life outside of work and sports.
Coach Marisa played lacrosse and ice hockey her whole life. She started in first grade making her strong in game play for those two sports although she said, “coaching is more about connecting with players than it is coaching the sport, so I would say I don’t have a favorite team to coach.” She also doesn’t have a favorite season to coach because the sport makes her appreciate each sport instead of getting burnt out from just one sport. The most enjoyable thing about coaching for her is the connection she makes. Teammate and coach bonds can be for life, and she enjoys the growth of a team and thinks the underdog winning is pretty awesome too.
Marisa graduated from SNHU in 2019, majoring in English literature. Her secondary education also with a minor in creative writing. She was inspired to coach because sports provided her with personal growth. This path has given her opportunities she could have never imagined for herself, with growth, knowledge and connections she will cherish the rest of her life. She could never repay the sports for all it has given to her. She sees coaching as a way of giving it back to others that have given it to her. In her spare time when she’s not at school she likes to explore scenic areas with her dog she adopted, named Brutus. Even in her down time, she still does different coaching development seminars. She has also skydived three times.
Coaches have a big impact on their players in many ways. The impact has a long effect on the player. Marisa gives us a very positive impact in the best ways from mentality to athleticism. Taking so much time out of her days to help her players train and become the best of their ability. Is important to her so she is always busy. Her time is always consumed with an activity. Elizabeth Marousek says, “She is always a great help, she’s always in a good mood, easy to talk to and friendly!”