Craig
Vandersea P’22

Craig Vandersea joined the St. Paul's School faculty in the fall of 2008 as head football coach, assistant baseball coach, assistant athletic director, and associate director of admissions.

Though he will play many roles at St. Paul's, football coach may be the one closest to his heart. Football is a longstanding Vandersea family tradition. Craig Vandersea grew up around the game with a football-coach father, Howard Vandersea, who coached at Boston University, Tufts University, Brown University, and Springfield College before guiding the program at Bowdoin College for 16 years. His uncle, Phil Vandersea, was drafted by the Green Bay Packers out of the University of Massachusetts and won a Super Bowl ring with the NFL franchise under legendary coach Vince Lombardi in 1966.

"Football has always been a part of my life," says Vandersea, who most recently served as assistant football coach at Bates College for 10 years and head baseball coach for nine. "I am thrilled to have this opportunity to lead the football program at St. Paul's."

Vandersea played his college ball as a tight end at the University of Rhode Island, where he was a three-year letter winner. He made his coaching debut with the URI football program immediately following his graduation. His other coaching stints include assistant positions at Bowdoin College and Norwich University.

While coaching at Bates, Vandersea was part of two CBB football championships. His vast experience includes work with defensive linemen, defensive backs, quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers.