Barry Retiring After 40 Years at SAS

At the St. Andrew’s-Sewanee Winter Athletics Awards program, longtime SAS wrestling coach Dan Barry announced his retirement. Barry, a 1972 graduate of St. Andrew’s School and the recipient of the school’s Best Athlete award that year, has been affiliated with the school’s wrestling program for more than 40 years. He will continue to help the school as a volunteer and as coordinator of the annual Mountain Top Wrestling Tournament.

Barry leaves the SAS wrestling program in the capable hands of McLain Still, who served as head coach this year. 

“It’s been an honor to coach with Dan,” said Still. “I spent two years learning how to coach from him, and it completely changed my outlook on the sport and coaching as a profession.” 

Over the years, Barry has coached wrestling, softball, soccer, baseball and football and won many championships. Barry served as assistant varsity wrestling coach for nine years before being named head varsity and middle school wrestling coach in 2005. In eight years, his varsity team had nine state place finishes, one girls’ state champion and final four in state duals invitational in 2010–11.

From 2008 to 2012, Barry was head varsity girls’ softball coach. His team had two regional runner-up team finishes, one sub-state finish in 2008 and one final four finish in 2009. Barry led the middle school boys’ soccer team to league championships in 2003–04 and the middle school girls’ team to a championship in 2005. He also served as an assistant varsity baseball and football coach. 

The Rev. Ellis Mayfield, former director of athletics, said, “Dan brought high expectations, accountability, sportsmanship, passion and fun to every sport he coached. I could always count on Dan to coach and teach in line with the SAS athletic philosophy.” Margot Burns, assistant athletic director and coach, added, “Dan’s passion and commitment to wrestling and all our athletics will be greatly missed.”

Barry’s four children, Nick, ’02; Ryan, ’04; Evan, ’08; and Hannah, ’10, are all St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School alumni and, like their father, were all named SAS Best Athletes as seniors.