Meet RFHHS’s New Athletic Director: Beth English!

This interview was conducted by student sports-journalist John Trudel.  John recently completed the Sports Broadcasting camp which included work with the football program and his own podcast.

Q: Welcome to Rumson Fair Haven.   What attracted you to come here?

A:  What attracted me to RFH is its proud standard of excellence and the way the entire community supports the school, creating an environment where students thrive. As a lifelong educator, I’m drawn to places where I can make a positive impact, and with such a proven blueprint for success, I knew this was the kind of community I wanted to be a part of.  

Q: What do you look for in your athletes?  What I look for in my athletes is passion and work ethic.

A: If you truly care and are willing to put in the work, success will follow. Just as important, I value athletes who are great teammates—those who magnify their strengths while working on their weaknesses, which helps them grow both individually and collectively as a team. I want my athletes to be open-minded, positive, and focused on what they can control: their attitude and their effort.

Q:  What is the most stressful part of your job?  

A:The most stressful part of the job is that you are never truly “off.”  This role requires you to live the job, and I am constantly thinking about my students, athletes, coaches, and community. There are always many moving parts and a great deal of responsibility to manage. While it can feel overwhelming at times, the reward of seeing growth, success, and a positive impact makes it all worth it.

Q: What is one of your future goals for the RFHHS Athletic program? 

A: One of my goals for the RFHHS athletic program is to continue enhancing and supporting every team, coach, and student-athlete. I want to leave each program better than I found it by building on our traditions of excellence while also creating new opportunities for growth and success.

Q: What is your favorite thing about being an athletic director?

A: My favorite part of being an athletic director is the people. The students are my constant motivation—I want their experience to be positive and meaningful, and I do everything I can to support them. As a longtime coach, I also enjoy mentoring and supporting my staff, and I truly value the colleagues I work alongside. I would be lost without the dedication of our staff and administration.

At the end of the day, I simply enjoy helping people and being part of these formative years. This world can be tough, and no one should have to go through it alone. The connections I build—with athletes, parents, teachers, administrators, officials, bus drivers, and even community partners—are the most rewarding part of this job. If I can make someone’s day a little better or easier, then I feel I’ve done my job well.