Watkinson boys Varsity basketball was featured in the March 2, 2026 edition of we-ha.com.

The Walkers have united to coach varsity boys basketball at Watkinson School.

By Irene O’Connor

West Hartford residents Mark and Matt Walker are proving that basketball is truly a family sport at Watkinson School.

In his first year as head coach and third year overall with the program, Mark Walker has led Watkinson’s boys varsity basketball team to a first-place tie in their conference. Alongside him on the sideline is his son, Matt Walker, serving as assistant coach in what has become a dream season for the father-son duo.

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Jon Cohn has been named Head Coach of Watkinson School’s Boys Varsity Soccer team. A 1978 Watkinson graduate, Cohn has extensive coaching experience at the international, club, ODP, high school and college levels. 

At the youth level, Cohn has coached with the West Hartford Soccer Club, FSA FC United and CFC Premier. He has been a head coach of Connecticut Olympic Development Program (ODP) teams since 2004 and has served on the ODP Regional camp staff. He currently is the Regional Training Center Director, overseeing camps and clinics for Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, and is the Director of Soccer at the Day Hill Dome in Windsor, CT. 

Cohn served as head coach of Mitchell College Women’s Soccer in 2025 and was the associate men’s Coach at Elms college in 2023 and 2024. 

Cohn led the Maccabi USA Boys U-16 Team to silver medals at the Pan-Am Games in Argentina (January 2024) and the World Maccabiah games in Israel (July 2022). Cohn also coached the Maccabi USA Team at the Pan-Am games in Mexico (2019) and the World Youth Games in Israel (2018). 

Cohn has served as head coach of the Manchester High School boys and girls programs as well as Bloomfield High School boys soccer team. Cohn led the Manchester girls to 11 CIAC State Tournaments and, in his first year coaching the boys program, led the boys to state tournament qualification for the first time in five years. 

Cohn played for Curry College and has played in both the SNEASL and SASL adult leagues for over 25 years. He graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1983 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree. He was inducted in the Greater Hartford Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in the fall of 2024.

Watkinson School is pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Ide as the new Head Coach of the Varsity Fencing team. 

Ben Ide brings over ten years of coaching experience and a comprehensive fencing background to the Watkinson School program. His fencing journey started in 1993; since then, he has competed, coached, and refereed in all three weapon classes (Foil, Epee, and Saber). Ben is officially certified as a Coach and Referee by the US Fencing Association (USFA) and is fully vetted and trained by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. He focuses on cultivating critical thinking, discipline, and sportsmanship in a safe, structured environment.

Beyond Watkinson, Ben is the Co-Owner of the Enfield Fencing Club (EFC). At EFC, he teaches fencers of all skill levels, from age 11 through adult, and personally manages equipment maintenance, ensuring a deep commitment to the sport’s infrastructure.

The Watkinson Fencing Program is proud to collaborate with the Enfield Fencing Club. EFC offers an opportunity for Watkinson fencers to access year-round training and advanced instruction from USFA-certified coaches. Students looking to accelerate their skill development or compete outside of the school season are highly encouraged to explore the programs available at EFC.

Fall Sports Day was a huge success thanks to our incredible athletes, coaches, families, fans, and volunteers! Saturday, September 27 brought us perfect weather and a great turnout! 🐏

A warm thank you to the Watkinson Parent Community (WPC) for their support and food truck magic!

Photo credits to Annie Hayami, Maddie B. ’27, Ava B. ’27, Olivia C. ’26

Watkinson School is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Walker as the new Head Coach of the Boys Varsity Basketball team. Matt Walker will assist his father on the sideline.

Coach Walker brings over 40 years of basketball coaching experience to Watkinson. He has served as an assistant coach for the program for the past two years, becoming an integral part of the staff. His previous coaching experience includes positions at Conard High School and Hall High School. Currently, Coach Walker is also the director of the West Hartford Boys Travel Basketball Program.

“We are excited to welcome Coach Walker as our new Head Coach,” said Ann Haggerty, Athletic Director. “His coaching philosophy, which emphasizes positivity and encouragement, is an excellent fit for Watkinson. He is dedicated to instilling the values of sportsmanship in his players and helping them reach their full potential.”

Joining the staff as an assistant will be Matt Walker, son of the new head coach, who brings his own track record of success. A coach for the CT Swarm and West Hartford Travel Basketball, Matt Walker recently served as the Junior Varsity Coach and Varsity Assistant Coach at Kingswood Oxford School.

The Walkers are committed to developing young athletes through their non-profit organization, ‘On The Court.’ Founded in 2023, ‘On The Court’ provides basketball skills training to boys and girls ages 6 to 16. The program operates from March to November, and in the past two years, has trained over 450 young athletes.

Please join us in welcoming the Walkers to the Watkinson community!

For the second year in a row, Eva G. ’25 was named the NEPSAC Class D Player of the Year. This incredible award is voted on by coaches acros all classes in the NEPSAC, speaking volumes to Eva’s impact on the court. Congratulations, Eva!