A 25 plus year veteran, Coach Kates has become a beloved figure at Notre Dame Academy of Hingham for the past 13 years. With an emphasis on sportsmanship, Rick has built NDA into the premiere Catholic Conference program while maintaining the school’s mission. His many contributions include being Commissioner of the conference, serving as a certified EMT on call for campus emergencies, teaching physics, and enhancing the school website presentation. A member of the NDA Hall of Fame, Rick’s coaching resume has produced numerous sprint relay champs. Undefeated indual meets during his tenure in cross country, indoor and outdoor in the Catholic Conference, perhaps Coach Kates’ most impressive statistic is the huge number of girls that participate in his program, averaging well over 100 preseason. No wonder, he was chosen 2002 NFHS Northeast Cross Country Coach of the Year and his team was chosen as the prestigious MIAA Sportsmanship Award recipient five separate times! Overall, he has an impressive 332-41 slate at NDA after arriving at Brookline High in 1994. Additionally, Rick is one of the pioneers in using computer technology at meets, a member of the MIAA Track and Field Committee, an official, and a MSTCA Do It Clinic instructor. His community involvement has also been noteworthy; in response to a tragic accident at school, Rick founded and organized a 5k race of a scholarship in the students’ memory, now in its 10th year. Called “a step above the rest as a teacher, coach, father and friend” by Sister Barbara Barry, President of NDA, Rick is married to the former Livvy Williams, one of our state’s greatest distance runners ever, and the proud parent of Emma.
Inducted: 2008