Charlie Bruder ’23
One hundred and fifty Inter-Ac wins and PAISSA titles. Five hundred and seventy varsity games coached. Thirty-four years spent leading varsity teams to Inter-Ac claims pursuing the Episcopal Athletics statement “Honor in victory, grace in defeat.”
Countless students that have come and gone through EA have called Buggy a mentor, coach, or advisor. Field hockey player Sofia Acosta ‘21, who helped lead Episcopal’s Field Hockey team to become Inter-Ac champions and PAISSA champions, states, “Buggy has taught us so much about the game. She comes to practice every day, wanting to improve. She has never cared about rankings, trophies, or what people say about other teams; she cares about her players and how we play as a team.”
Buggy has been working as the Head Athletic Director for twenty-seven years, building long-lasting bonds with other faculty members, especially with the athletic staff. Assistant Athletic Director James Farrell has known Buggy for thirty-four years and has been working with her in the athletic department for twenty-seven years. “He says, we are great friends, and I feel so lucky to have gotten to work with her over all these years. She was there at our wedding, and she was there when our children were born, and Robyn, my daughter, got to play for Ms. Buggy. My kids both call her Aunt Gina because she has known them their whole lives. She is one of the top three coaches I have ever known. The relationships she has built with her teams are amazing. Kids love her and will do anything for her. Ms. Buggy is a very hard worker, and she is very protective of all of her coaches. She is a very positive, upbeat person who appreciates life.”
Varsity Football Coach Todd Fairlie has known Buggy for eleven years. In those eleven years working with her, Fairlie states, “Coach Buggy has always been a terrific example of what a coach should be here at EA. She always has great advice from a coach’s perspective and understands the challenges coaches are presented here at EA. She has always been supportive and is one of the most humble people you will ever meet.”
Before Buggy worked at Episcopal, she worked at Agnes Irwin, the biggest rival to the girls’ sports teams. Buggy came to EA as the Assistant Athletic Director hired by Mr. Crawford. In 1993, she became the Athletic director. Head of School TJ Locke has now worked with Buggy for the last seven years. He has admired her coaching ethic and the way she motivates her players and allows all of her athletes to succeed. “I am so impressed with how positive she stays in the heat of competition, and she never loses sight that coaching is an educational pursuit. She would not care about winning if there was no learning going on.”
As Buggy moves on from Episcopal, she will miss watching kids develop as athletes. Buggy will miss the memories she has made with all of her colleagues and players. The Episcopal memories she will miss the most are the exhilarating wins and the disappointing losses, the energy and excitement that goes on during the Episcopal/Agnes Irwin/ Haverford day weekend, Friday night games, and going down to the river on an early morning to watch the talented rowers. Coach Gina Buggy will be missed by her athletes, faculty members, and the entire Episcopal Academy community for her thirty four years of dedication.