Although associate principal and longtime basketball coach Scott Hoffman was famous for wearing an inspirational T-shirt emblazoned with the saying “It’s Time to Step Up,” Hoffman has in fact decided to step down as coach of the Bromfield boys basketball team he led for 12 years. Although he will continue as associate principal, Hoffman said he is leaving the coaching position in order to spend more time with his family.
Hoffman began his coaching career at Bromfield in 1995. His first season with the team resulted in a modest five wins, but two years later, in 1997, Hoffman coached the boys to the district postseason tournament. In his third year at the helm, the Trojan boys went undefeated in the Midland-Wachusett D League and were invited to participate in the prestigious Clark Tournament in Worcester. The Trojans were repeatedly asked to participate in the Clark Tournament during Hoffman’s tenure and clinched the title in 2002 and 2003. These two seasons were the most successful of Hoffman’s career: both teams went undefeated in the Midland-Wachusett D League, both claimed victory in the Clark Tournament, and both won back-to-back Central Massachusetts District Champsionships.
Brandon Simes, who graduated from Bromfield in 2004, was surprised by Hoffman’s decision to retire. “I figured he’d coach forever,” he said. “He always had a great enthusiasm for the game and for coaching.”
—Scott Hoffman
Bromfield social studies teacher and former junior varsity basketball coach Steve Besold spoke highly of Hoffman’s work ethic, noting how thoroughly he prepared for every game. But the best word to describe Hoffman, Besold said, was “consistent.” Hoffman was able to create a consistently winning program with his devotion to the basketball program, Besold said, from the middle school and JV teams all the way through high school.
On the lighter side, teacher Dennis DeGara said he would miss the witty phrases on the Trojan team T-shirts. Rob Southworth, who played for Hoffman for several years, said that next year’s team would definitely miss the cupcakes Mrs. Hoffman made for every away game.
While he will no longer sit on the bench at Bromfield basketball games, Hoffman will often take a seat on the bleachers to stay in touch with the game and the players. “I consider myself very lucky to have been able to coach and enjoy coaching as much as I have,” he said, adding that Bromfield was lucky to have such great players, supportive parents, and phenomenal coaching staffs. The coach who seemed to get as much enjoyment out of Bromfield basketball as any of his players had one final remark as he reflected on the close of his coaching career: “I hope the players had as much fun as I did,” he said.
