Paying It Forward
Back in the mid-1990’s when Aaron Marsh was a student at St. Paul’s School in Concord, NH, he got this crazy idea that one day he’d pursue a career in education.
“I was fortunate enough to go to a truly outstanding institution,” he said.
“I grew academically, socially, and athletically and recognized the impact several faculty members had on my life. It was always a goal of mine to teach and coach.”
“I was fortunate enough to go to a truly outstanding institution,” he said.
“I grew academically, socially, and athletically and recognized the impact several faculty members had on my life. It was always a goal of mine to teach and coach.”
Marsh was a three-sport athlete at St. Paul’s. In the fall, he played offensive guard on the football team. He wrestled in the winter and was accomplished enough to earn All-American honors in the 152-pound weight class his senior year (1997). In the spring, he was a lacrosse defenseman.
At Williams College, he wrestled for two years before two shoulder injuries and subsequent surgeries ended his career, so he focused his athletic attention to the JV lacrosse squad, which he co-coached for four seasons.
Marsh earned his degree in mathematics and economics in 2001, and, though the lessons of his St. Paul’s mentors still resonated with him, he accepted a position with Amaranth Advisors, a hedge fund based in Greenwich, CT.
He enjoyed his work immensely and after four years moved to London to help open the company’s European office.
In 2006 he returned to New York City to work for Duquesne Capital where he and four others managed a billion dollars in assets.
Soon, Marsh and his wife Aryn, a graduate student whom he met in England, were living in Connecticut, she was teaching, he was commuting an hour each way, and life was moving at breakneck speed.
Though his job was challenging and exhilarating and he drew immense satisfaction from coaching wrestling at Trailblazers Academy, a charter school in Stamford, CT, he knew in his heart that the time to follow his dream had arrived.
One thing led to another, and this past fall Marsh signed on as an Upper School math teacher at Collegiate.
He, Aryn, and their year-old son Ralph live nearby, and, after several months adjusting to the pace of academia, he finds himself leading the wrestling program, managing a staff of five coaches, and overseeing the fortunes of 26 varsity and JV and 16 middle school athletes who labor each day on the second floor of the athletic center.
“Nothing was too surprising from a teaching perspective,” Marsh said of his career shift.
“With a wife who’s a teacher (English), I certainly understood what school was like…the routine, the planning, the grading, writing comments.
“I think I understood the rhythm and how the art of teaching unravels.
“I saw wrestling as another opportunity to educate and engage. It had been important in my life and helped me grow from a character and leadership perspective.”
The first winter on the mat has been a whirlwind, but by all accounts, the wrestling program has gained solid footing.
This past Saturday, the Cougars placed a solid third in the Prep League. They compete in the St. Alban’s Invitational today and tomorrow and the VISAA championship next weekend.
There have been challenges along the way, of course.
“I had to learn the kids,” he said, “but we truly have a great bunch of kids. They’re very young but very nice.
“I’ve had to find a way to motivate…get them used to a different structure and style of wrestling. There’s a learning curve with myself as well as with them. Even when the kids are working very hard, that’s a natural process.”
When Marsh becomes reflective, he thinks of the mentors who planted the seed when he was an impressionable teenager.
There was Cliff Gillespie, his lacrosse coach.
And Kevin MacNeil, who taught him math.
And John Buxton, the school’s vice-rector who headed the wrestling program.
And Candy Dale, his freshman English instructor whom he credits with teaching him to write.
They are why he’s teaching and coaching.
They are why his journey brought him to Collegiate.
“I’ve really enjoyed being here,” he said. “What I was doing before was intellectually fascinating, but this is definitely more fulfilling and rewarding.
“Here, I have the opportunity to have a lasting impact on the lives of others.”
-- Weldon Bradshaw
Back
At Williams College, he wrestled for two years before two shoulder injuries and subsequent surgeries ended his career, so he focused his athletic attention to the JV lacrosse squad, which he co-coached for four seasons.
Marsh earned his degree in mathematics and economics in 2001, and, though the lessons of his St. Paul’s mentors still resonated with him, he accepted a position with Amaranth Advisors, a hedge fund based in Greenwich, CT.
He enjoyed his work immensely and after four years moved to London to help open the company’s European office.
In 2006 he returned to New York City to work for Duquesne Capital where he and four others managed a billion dollars in assets.
Soon, Marsh and his wife Aryn, a graduate student whom he met in England, were living in Connecticut, she was teaching, he was commuting an hour each way, and life was moving at breakneck speed.
Though his job was challenging and exhilarating and he drew immense satisfaction from coaching wrestling at Trailblazers Academy, a charter school in Stamford, CT, he knew in his heart that the time to follow his dream had arrived.
One thing led to another, and this past fall Marsh signed on as an Upper School math teacher at Collegiate.
He, Aryn, and their year-old son Ralph live nearby, and, after several months adjusting to the pace of academia, he finds himself leading the wrestling program, managing a staff of five coaches, and overseeing the fortunes of 26 varsity and JV and 16 middle school athletes who labor each day on the second floor of the athletic center.
“Nothing was too surprising from a teaching perspective,” Marsh said of his career shift.
“With a wife who’s a teacher (English), I certainly understood what school was like…the routine, the planning, the grading, writing comments.
“I think I understood the rhythm and how the art of teaching unravels.
“I saw wrestling as another opportunity to educate and engage. It had been important in my life and helped me grow from a character and leadership perspective.”
The first winter on the mat has been a whirlwind, but by all accounts, the wrestling program has gained solid footing.
This past Saturday, the Cougars placed a solid third in the Prep League. They compete in the St. Alban’s Invitational today and tomorrow and the VISAA championship next weekend.
There have been challenges along the way, of course.
“I had to learn the kids,” he said, “but we truly have a great bunch of kids. They’re very young but very nice.
“I’ve had to find a way to motivate…get them used to a different structure and style of wrestling. There’s a learning curve with myself as well as with them. Even when the kids are working very hard, that’s a natural process.”
When Marsh becomes reflective, he thinks of the mentors who planted the seed when he was an impressionable teenager.
There was Cliff Gillespie, his lacrosse coach.
And Kevin MacNeil, who taught him math.
And John Buxton, the school’s vice-rector who headed the wrestling program.
And Candy Dale, his freshman English instructor whom he credits with teaching him to write.
They are why he’s teaching and coaching.
They are why his journey brought him to Collegiate.
“I’ve really enjoyed being here,” he said. “What I was doing before was intellectually fascinating, but this is definitely more fulfilling and rewarding.
“Here, I have the opportunity to have a lasting impact on the lives of others.”
-- Weldon Bradshaw
Collegiate School | 103 N. Mooreland Road, Richmond, VA 23229 | P. 804.740.7077 | F. 804.741.9797 | webmaster@collegiate-va.org | Contact Us