Editor’s Note: This story is part of a series of features on women leaders in Western Massachusetts high school athletics. UMass journalism students wrote the stories as part of a semester-long project in their sports writing class in partnership with MassLive.
Early into her first season as an assistant coach of Longmeadow Field Hockey six years ago, Kelly Gallo was told by legendary coach Ann Simons that the team was hers if she wanted it, alluding to Simons retirement. Gallo, while thankful for the high praise, was adamant that nothing was given and knew she had to earn the role.
Just a few short years later, Gallo got the job and is now looking to begin a new chapter with a team coming off their first state title in the final season of Simons’ 42-year coaching career.
It didn’t take long for Simons to see potential in Gallo, and her decision came down to the trust she had that Gallo was the right person for the role.
“It was a no-brainer that she would be the perfect fit,” said Simons. “Kelly was a great athlete at Westfield High School and an all-star at Springfield College … she had a great work ethic and a great relationship with her student-athletes.”
Gallo and Simons have known each other going back to Gallo’s playing days at Westfield, an opponent of Longmeadow when Simons was coach. Gallo went on to gain recognition and get recruited by Springfield College, where she played for another four years.
After graduating in physical education and health and a master’s in athletic administration, Gallo decided to pursue a career in coaching. She became the head coach for field hockey and lacrosse along with being the assistant athletic director at Portsmouth Abbey School in Rhode Island for about a year.
When she moved back to Western Massachusetts, she reached out to Simons asking to join her coaching staff and was brought on as an assistant coach to the team. She spent her first six years in this role before becoming head coach this season.
“There’s not enough females in coaching … I’ve worked with many men who are awesome coaches, but it is disheartening sometimes when you think that there could be a female in that role, and (it) is important to show representation in that way,” Gallo said. “I just enjoy possibly inspiring other young female athletes to follow in my footsteps.”
In Gallo’s first season as head coach this year, the Lancers finished the season 10-8-3, with an appearance in the Western Mass. Class A Tournament final, where they ultimately lost 3-2 in overtime to No. 1 seeded Minnechaug. In the state tournament, they made the Round of 16 after defeating Duxbury, 5-1. They then ran into undefeated Dartmouth High School in their next game and were defeated 2-0 to end the first year of Gallo’s tenure.
Gallo had to go through a roster overhaul due to the graduation of 12 seniors from the state championship-winning team. All of those athletes played a big role in the team’s historic season.
With only three returning seniors, Gallo had to find a way to get the underclassmen to raise their performance and continue Longmeadow’s dominance over their opponents.
“She constantly lifted me up and made me believe in myself more than ever before,” said Emily Brais, a senior captain this past season.
Brais has been a starter on the varsity team since her sophomore year under Simons but recently finished her final year in high school under Gallo.
“Over the past four years I have been with Coach Gallo, I am proud to say she has improved my game, mental toughness, confidence, and overall work ethic. My sophomore year, I struggled with confidence, both on and off the field … Coach Gallo is a big reason why I was able to overcome this burden and have an amazing senior season,” Brais said.
Isabella Mitreska, another senior captain, recently transitioned from a forward to take a center middle position. She also started her career under Simons and is committed to play at Williams College.
“One thing Longmeadow field hockey lives by is ‘tradition never graduates.’ Coach Gallo did an exceptional job at continuing the legacy of this program. We were reminded every day about the strong morals of the program and how some things have changed, but many things haven’t,” Mitreska said.
Gallo’s coaching philosophy goes beyond just tradition, however, as she prioritizes connecting with players on a personal level.
“Her biggest goal is for us to learn, grow, and become better people to ourselves and those around us. She understands people’s mistakes or weaknesses, and only teaches us to turn them into lessons and experiences,” Mitreska said.
Gallo’s character impressed those around her in her journey to becoming a head coach. Steve Dudeck is the girl’s lacrosse coach at Longmeadow High School and Gallo also used to work as assistant coach for that program.
Like Simons, Dudeck coached against Gallo in her time at Westfield High School when she played lacrosse there.
“Obviously, there’s high expectations with that program, and Kelly not only had the guts to take over a position like that, but to see it through to understand where she was at and rebuilding and putting together, keeping it at that competitive level is difficult,” Dudeck said.
Ciara Vitiello is the daughter of Dudeck who played field hockey at Longmeadow under Simons and competed against Gallo.
“For Kelly to be able to take on this role after Ann, I think everyone wins when women feel empowered to lead,” Vitiello said.
Vitiello said that it’s important for Longmeadow to continue their storied tradition by having another strong woman like Gallo to fill in the shoes of Simons, adding that this is the key to success for them moving forward.
Gallo learned a lot from Simons during the duo’s tenure together and it has paid dividends in how the team performed this year. Now that Simons is retired, Gallo brings a new perspective to a team full of young players looking to build off last year’s success.
As Gallo forges a new legacy in the post-Simons era, Dudeck in particular has confidence she will be able to remain successful.
“I think that kids will graduate from (Longmeadow) and look back and parents will say that their daughter was lucky enough to play for Kelly Gallo,” Dudeck said. “I think the kids, the community, are very lucky to have someone like Ann and someone who’s like Kelly to take over for Ann here.”
