In late March, Alvirne announced the hiring of current Pelham Athletic Director Justin Hufft to take over the same role in Hudson for the retiring Karen Bonney. In addition to taking over as the new AD, Hufft will also take the reins as the football coach for the Broncos beginning with the 2025 season this fall. We were recently able to connect with Justin to get to know him a bit more before he joins the Bronco community.
Q: What is your background in athletics and coaching?
A: I have been coaching football for 27 years, as a high school and college assistant and as a high school head coach for 10 years. I am in my 7th year as an Athletic Director in the state of New Hampshire.
Q: Did you always have a love for sports?
A: I have always valued athletics, in particular the importance of being part of a team. Being a good teammate is one of the best ways that young people can prepare themselves for becoming a happy and healthy adult. There are so many life lessons in athletics and being able to play for a high school team is one of the fondest memories that many people have as they look back at their youth.
Q: What drew you to take the job at Alvirne?
A: Alvirne is a particular draw for me due to its location and the fact that they compete at the Division 1 level. The Hudson community has always been one that has valued athletics in addition to academic excellence, and I'm looking forward to working together to create a memorable experience for Alvirne student-athletes.
Q: Along with becoming the new AD, you’re also joining Alvirne as the new football coach. Have you been able to interact with the team much and what kind of expectations do you have for this fall?
A: I'm looking forward to working with the football team this coming fall. I am looking to have a large and experienced coaching staff that will help with this transition. We are going to be committed to trying to get this year's team to reach their ceiling, whatever that may be. There seems to be a lot of excitement from the student body, and we're looking forward to getting after it.
Q: How do you hope to grow athletics at Alvirne over the coming years?
A: There are big shoes to fill as Karen Bonney will be leaving an impressive legacy after dedicating herself to Broncos athletics for so many years; she has always been considered one of the top directors in the state. The hope is to continue to build on what has been established here to provide the students of Alvirne with the best athletic experience they can have.
Q: What's one thing that people should know about you as you begin your tenure at Alvirne?
A: I'm really looking forward to getting started on July 1st. There will always be a lot of work to be done, but I'm excited to see what we can accomplish.
