Retiring Faculty Feature: Dana Barbin (1987)

By SAM ALTMAN, JINMIN LEE, HANNA WEI, and FORREST ZENG

“I was asked to join the physical education (PE) department and run the summer camps,” recalled Instructor in Physical Education Dana Barbin. “It was a two-year internship. That was in 1987.” Little did Barbin know how those two years were only the beginning of his now 37-year career at the Academy. 

“What I thought was going to be two years at Exeter ended up being 37,” Barbin continued. “Lucky me. This has been a great place to have a life, have a career, and raise my family.”

Having first joined the Academy as a director of Exeter’s hockey summer camp in the late 1980s, Barbin also coached football, hockey, and baseball from day one at the Academy. After two years, he became chairman and athletic director of the PE department. He served in that position for nearly a decade, overseeing the department’s rapid growth from 1989 to 1999. Barbin was also a dorm head for a decade. 

Over time, Barbin has absorbed Exeter’s non sibi culture in his teaching, describing it as the most important lesson he learned at the Academy. “When you have a life in education, your first concern is always the students,” he said. “I had a colleague who told me: ‘Always keep in mind that every kid you are teaching and coaching is somebody’s daughter or son.’ That was a good education for me as a young faculty member. It’s true—treat’em the way you’d want your daughter or son to be treated. That was a good lesson for me, and I’ve tried to go about my life here with that always in mind.”

One of Barbin’s players, senior Baron Masopust, reflected this sentiment about his coach. “He’s always taught me to treat everybody like family. He’s always treated me like family and has been more than a coach to me. He’s been a mentor, like a father figure here.”

Senior Paul Schilcher praised Barbin’s kindness and encouraging spirit. “He pulled me aside after one of our first-ever skates, and he told me that he sees a lot of potential in me,” Schilcher said. “He told me it doesn’t matter how many mistakes you make because, for every mistake, you do a number of good things. So it’s important to focus on the good things you do rather than dwelling on the mistakes.”

“I would describe him as a very loving person,” concurred upper Will Cavanagh. “He’s always got a smile on his face, and he uplifts all of his mentees. I remember I had a bad game this year, and he came up to me next practice and pulled me aside to have an inspiring conversation with me. He told me that I shouldn’t give up because the team needed me, which kept me going with a strong spirit. It meant a lot to me.” 

One of Barbin’s former players, alumnus Bradley Ingersoll ‘15, said, “One of the quotes he used to always give us was ‘see the world.’ It was a reference to keeping your head up on the ice, but I think it applies to life in general as well. Those words, along with many others, have stuck with me. Coach Barbin was an influential person in my life.”

Ingersoll concluded with a message to his former coach. “Happy retirement coach, thank you for all you gave to many guys who were lucky enough to play for you.”

Outside of the hockey rink, Barbin is always dedicated to his mentees and often spends time with them through other sports. 

“All he lives for is sports,” Masopust said. “I’ve played golf with him a few times. He’s competitive and loves all sports. Anytime you see him, the first thing that comes up is a pro sports game. He just loves competition and engages with the hockey team by setting up non-hockey sports games. Whether it’s recreational touch football or if it’s an actual hockey game, he treats it with the same vibrance. It’s super fun.”

“He’s been very dedicated to the team, even when you see him outside the rink,” agreed Schilcher. “I think he’s so dedicated to the program and his ways and I mean, it’s worked for him. He’s had a lot of success.”

Even as he now retires, Barbin hopes to continue coaching hockey and baseball part-time. “I want to have some free time now, but still keep my foot in the game and continue coaching,” Barbin said. “I’ll hopefully coach in the winter and spring here, but even when I do that, I’ll have time during the day to do other things, and that’s what I really look forward to—just a little more free time.”

Since he arrived at the Academy in 1987, Barbin has seen great change over time. He pointed out the school’s much better emphasis on supporting students, saying, “When I first came, the Academy was a really tough place for the kids. We were kind of unyielding, if somebody had some struggles academically, they were gone. I think it’s a good change that if a student is struggling academically, we can now give those students the help they need. That was the biggest change in a really positive way.”

But to the mentees and players he cared for throughout his 37 years at the Academy, Barbin was the one who created that change. “Being a hockey player has always been and will always be at the core of my identity,” said alumnus Conrad Barnes ‘00. “However, the four years I spent playing under your guidance, Coach Barbin, and my experience at Exeter, are the best, most defining and transformative aspects of that core.”

“These years profoundly shaped my life and friendships and provided me with one of the most memorable moments (winning the 1999 New England Championships) that I was able to share with my father,” Barnes continued. “You are not only an exceptional coach to your team, but a legend among coaches. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been mentored by you as my coach and for the privilege of now calling you my friend.”

“Coach Barbin: Your retirement is truly the end of an era at the Academy, and a great one,” concluded alumnus Eddie Caron ‘01. “You have been the greatest coach, mentor and now friend to countless generations of Exonians. I reflect today with a warm heart on every Vet skate, our 1999 New England Championship, and the countless lessons you taught me. Most of all, I am grateful to know we will never lose touch and that you will always be there for all of us no matter where retirement takes you. Come visit Minnesota, the Vet skates are great in the winter and the lakes are even better in the summer!”