Celebrating Coach Becker

The Tabor community paused on February 6 and 7, 2026, to recognize and celebrate girls varsity basketball coach Will Becker’s decades-long career at the helm of the program. The Friday night reception and Saturday on-court ceremony marked Becker’s decision to step down to assistant coach and cede the reins of the program to his own former player, Lydia Caputi ’14. Over the course of 32 years, Becker compiled an eye-popping record: Six hundred-twenty three wins, 118 losses, and an 84% winning percentage. In 14 of those 32 years, Becker’s season record included only one or two losses. 

On Friday evening, Head of School Tony Jaccaci hosted the reception at the Head of School residence. Faculty, friends and family poured in, along with former head of school Jay Stroud and program alumni from near and far. Following Jaccaci’s remarks, Nicoleen Prince-Burrell ’96 spoke on behalf of her Tabor teammates and fellow program graduates.  

“When I think of Tabor, I think of Coach Becker,” Prince-Burrell said. She continued, describing Becker, who also served as her advisor, as “a force with his passion for the sport, intense work ethic, commitment to player development, and creating a culture of excellence.” The night provided opportunities for community, connection, and shared memories and moments of familiarity that span generations.  

“I think it was really wonderful for the women who came back,” Becker says. “It was fun to see the daisy chain of overlap, who played with whom, and for them to connect and see each other. And even the ones who didn't play together just enjoyed connecting with each other.” 

The next day, the school hosted an informal gathering in Wolfe Lobby before the Seawolves took on — and beat — The Newman School. The celebration wrapped up just before the 2:30 p.m. tipoff in Stone Gym as Athletic Director Kelly Walker, Coach Chris Conley, and Kate Vareika ’13 — who matriculated to play collegiate basketball at Dartmouth College —  recounted Becker’s impact on and off the court.  

Vareika noted that eight members of the team she joined as a freshman in 2009 would go on to play NCAA Division I basketball. That’s remarkable, she said, but the breadth and depth of the lessons Becker taught went far beyond the dimensions of the basketball court. She cited two quotes by the famous UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. 

The first Wooden quote Vareika cited: “A person must be interested in finding the best way, not in having their own way.” 

She remembered Becker reviewing game film all winter long, plastering the locker room whiteboard with scouting reports, and planning practices to the minute. “You can be sure,” she said, “he was always working tirelessly to find the best way to prepare us for our next opponent.”  

The second Wooden quote Vareika used to describe Becker: “Nothing will work unless you do.” 

“He created a culture of discipline, teamwork, resilience, and a commitment to excellence on and off the court,” she said. “Coach Becker helped make each and every one of us not only better basketball players, but better people.” 

Becker says that he always tries to stress “the importance of doing things the right way,” he says. “To not cut corners, to be willing to work hard and always to pick each other up; to build on the positives.” 

Before the starting whistle blew, Lydia Caputi, the current head coach, presented Becker with a framed photograph of Stone Gym. Earlier this year, Caputi reflected on what it means to her to have Becker on the bench at her side as her own tenure as head coach begins. “Will is still right there, and it’s a huge growth opportunity for me,” she said. “I want to build on what he’s done and the success he’s seen. As I figure out how to do that in my own way, it’s been great to be able to articulate that with him, share ideas, and feel supported along the way.” 

Becker says that he feels rewarded to know that he’s “handed it off to the right person. She’s doing an amazing job.” He says that before he announced his intention to step down, he watched the way Caputi interacts with the players, and the way she coaches. “It was great to see how much the girls loved her right away and connected with her instantly,” Becker says. “She’s been a great role model for the young women on the team.” 

In addition to his ongoing work with the basketball program, Becker continues his role as Chair of the Mathematics & Computer Science Department, as well as his role as houseparent in Matsumura House. At press time, the girls varsity basketball team had made its way into the NEPSAC Championship Tournament, and was looking forward to a semifinal matchup against Hoosac School following a quarterfinal victory over Dexter Southfield.