GMC adjusts to beloved AD's departure

Kip Shipley, former athletic director at Green Mountain College. (Provided Photo)

POULTNEY — Out on the game field at Green Mountain College, the Northeastern University men’s soccer team was going through a practice Thursday.

This is the Huskies’ preseason escape away from Boston. They are preparing for the season in the fresh air and tranquility offered by western Vermont.

Inside, the mood was somber. Nothing seemed tranquil. GMC had lost its athletic director very recently and the athletic department was in flux. Kip Shipley left abruptly due to what officials were calling “a family emergency.”

Shipley was also the women’s soccer coach.

The staff is devastated. They not only like Shipley as a person, but love what he had done professionally. He came in two years ago from California, intensively studied the situation and then moved the Eagles from the NCAA to the NAIA. The staff feels strongly that the program is in the best place moving forward.

James Thieverge, GMC’s sports information director, is now the interim athletic director.

“Kip was terrific. His impact will be felt here for a long time going forward,” Thieverge said. “It is amazing what he accomplished here in two years.”

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Missisquoi is a young football program trying to gain a foothold.

It has a new football coach in Chad Cioffi and he is committed to making the Swanton school relevant in the Vermont Interscholastic Football Leaue as soon as possible.

The Thunderbirds have been active over the summer with workouts on the field and fund raising off it.

Cioffi even made the long drive to Fair Haven along with his offensive and defensive coordinators to pick the brain of Slater head coach Brian Grady.

They met for more than four hours.

“We mainly discussed offensive stuff, practice structure and scouting,” Grady said.

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Grady’s Slaters will have a joint practice with Mount St. Joseph where the teams will hold a 7-on-7 passing scrimmage.

MSJ and Fair Haven will also travel to Middlebury for a scrimmage Aug. 23.

The Slaters open the season Aug. 31 at home against Mount Anthony.

Follow Tom on Twitter @RHSportsGuy

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