Andover Girls Hockey Head Coach Martha Fenton ’83 has woven her narrative through the fabric of Andover’s athletic history, not just as a formidable student-athlete, but also as a trailblazing coach and the school’s first female Athletic Director.
Fenton’s roots at Andover run deep, tracing back to her Upper Year. Initially told there were no beds available at Andover, she found herself a late admission in the fall of 1981. Teammate Angela Lorenz ’83 recalled Fenton’s early days at Andover, painting an image of a young athlete whose positivity was as noteworthy as her skills on the field.
“I remember her as being a positive and friendly person and competitor, always quick to smile… It was a great pleasure when Martha showed up halfway through Andover. First we were field hockey teammates, [where] she was a star, not surprisingly, including in the eyes of our seasoned coach Margery Harrison. Coach Harrison did not easily compliment — but Martha received plaudits I recall,” Lorenz wrote in an email to The Phillipian.
After graduating from Andover, Fenton went on to become a three-sport athlete at Bowdoin, playing field hockey, ice hockey, and lacrosse. From there, she embarked on her own journey, seeking job opportunities and a new path in life. Fenton recalled her journey after college, describing a stint in Switzerland as a ski coach.
Fenton said, “I didn’t know what I wanted to do [after college]… One of my Bowdoin friends had been working as a ski guide in Morzine, Switzerland. And she was leaving to go to Africa. And so she asked me to come and fill in for her. So I went and I helped in the chalet cooking and cleaning. And then in the afternoons I would take people skiing.”
Coming back to the United States, she secured a role in athletics and admissions at Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter), but her loyalty and affection remained with Andover. Balancing her dual roles, Fenton navigated her interim years at Exeter, a tenure rich in experience and friendship. However, when a spot opened at Andover, she jumped at the opportunity.
“I loved Exeter and I made friends up there… [But] once I got here…I knew that I wanted to try to do athletic management… I knew that this felt like home.” Fenton continued, “I realized how much the residential and the full picture of it, how much that influenced me. Having everything here and the opportunities that it afforded me. It was a really good fit for me.”
According to Angela Lorenz, Fenton’s former field hockey and ice hockey teammate at Andover, Fenton’s most telling attribute is her natural inclination to foster community.
Lorenz wrote in an email to The Phillipian, “This September, I got to see another side of Martha when she put me up for Volunteer Weekend. She was making heaps of food for something. Turns out Coach Fenton invites her athletes over for dinner as bonding events. In the ’80s, I was never invited to a coach’s home for a dinner or other event. Taking the time, off the field, to make the food and share a meal exemplifies Martha’s generosity and nurturing instincts.”
Fenton anchors her life’s work not in personal accolades or past glories, but in her day-to-day commitment to the students she mentors. With a steadfast belief in the transformative power of education and sports, Fenton hopes to shape a future for Andover that honors its rich traditions while embracing change.
Fenton said, “I haven’t left because I love what I do, and I can’t imagine leaving here to go someplace else to do what I’m doing. I haven’t had the desire to be a Head of School somewhere else… I’d rather be working in the trenches. I’d rather be doing the work. I’d rather be doing the work with kids.”
