Final Football Game Marks End to Decades of Coaching

Choatie, aka Jonathan Choate ’60, P'85, ’88, the longtime Groton math teacher and coach, concluded nearly four decades of coaching Groton football recently at the season’s closer against St. Mark’s.

He first coached on the Groton gridiron in 1969. When he stepped off the field on November 9, he had coached Groton football for 39 years. Including the games he played while a Groton student, Choatie had attended 42 games against rival St. Mark’s. At the end of this year, Choatie plans to take a sabbatical then return to teaching part-time.

Choatie had difficulty choosing his most memorable Groton football game, but finally settled on a hard-fought battle his Sixth Form year against St. Mark’s, which resulted in a tie. His play in that game as tight end and defensive end brought him All-New England second team honors.

Choatie, who has taught at Groton since 1967, says he loves coaching because he gets to know students outside the classroom. “Also, I was able to work with some wonderful colleagues—Jake Congleton, Dave Rogerson, Charlie Alexander, Tom DeGray, John Lyons, Peter Fry,” he says.

He may have stepped off the football field, but he’s not quite finished yet—Choatie will be coaching his final season of ice hockey this winter.

Above, Choatie performs the coin toss at the last game in his football coaching career.

Back