This commentary is by Don Keelan of Arlington, a retired certified public accountant.
In the Nov. 4 Wall Street Journal, Jayson Gay detailed Miller Bugliari’s accomplishments. In a week or so, Coach Bugliari will have completed his 63rd year as Pingry School’s soccer coach in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. In the world of high school soccer, the coach is legendary.
Closer to home, on Nov. 2, 2022, the Vermont Division 4 boys semifinal soccer match ended. The boys from each team met at midfield, gave each other the high-five, and moved on. Todd Wilkins, the longtime Arlington Memorial High School coach, and his associates followed their players.
For Wilkins, his walk across the field was filled with mixed emotions. It was his last midfield trek, ending 18 years as the Arlington Memorial High head soccer coach.
In Arlington soccer, two names are synonymous: Coach John Werner and Todd Wilkins. The former was legendary in his own right, locally, statewide, and nationally. When Wilkins was a student at Arlington Memorial, Werner was his coach. Little did either of them know that Wilkins, locally known as Sgt. Wilkins of the Vermont State Police, would continue the Werner legacy for nearly two decades.
Vermont high school coaching is no easy task: The assignment begins months before the actual play commences; several days and evenings are blocked off each week for practice and games; and with Vermont’s school size and location, long-distance travel goes with the job.
All too often overlooked is the sacrifice of a coach’s family. Put another way, a coach’s commitment must be augmented by his or her family; otherwise, it does not happen. In Wilkins’ case, that commitment stretched almost 20 years.
If coaching were all that Todd Wilkins and his family gave to Arlington, that would be more than enough. But it does not end with coaching. Todd has been a member of the Arlington School Board for years and is currently the board chair.
Anyone with any school connection is familiar with the struggles to combat Covid-19 and the resulting issues of student attendance and teacher and administrative staffing. Under Wilkins’ leadership, the Arlington School District kept remote learning minimal during the Covid pandemic.
Arlington has always been home to the Wilkins family, including his spouse and three children. While serving as a coach, school board member, and Bennington County patrol commander with the state police, Todd observed that the town of Arlington needed to change to attract new businesses, families and visitors. He knew he had to be on the town’s governing board to help that occur. In 2020, he was elected overwhelmingly to the Arlington Selectboard.
Todd and his spouse, Kerry, have passed down the DNA of service. Later this month, their eldest son, a two-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, will leave with his unit for an undisclosed location in the Mideast.
Paraphrasing the late fleet admiral of World War II, Chester A. Nimitz (1885-1966), after he witnessed what occurred on Iwo Jima, an excellent way to describe the Wilkins family is “where uncommon service is a common virtue.”
On Nov. 2, Todd Wilkins hung up his coaching whistle; however, scores of former players and their families are forever grateful for his leadership, compassion and commitment. Also, a deep gratitude to the Wilkins family for giving Todd the opportunity to coach and serve the town of Arlington.
I hope Coach Wilkins will not reevaluate his decision and return to coaching to eclipse Miller Bugliari’s 63 years and counting.
