Young out coach wins Coach of the Year award in rural America
Coach Couper Gunn led his high school's boys soccer team to a state final for the first time in 30 years, and they're just getting started. The post Young out coach wins Coach of the Year award in rural America appeared first on Outsports.
Mark
Couper Gunn, a rising high school soccer coach in rural New Hampshire, has won the state’s Coach of the Year award, marking an incredible feat for the young coach.
After leading the Kearsarge Regional High School boys soccer team to its first appearance in the New Hampshire Division III state championship game since 1993, Gunn and his accomplishments as a coach were recognized with the NHIAA Boys DIII Soccer Coach of the Year award.
The team — seeded No. 2 — fell to No. 1 Saint Thomas Aquinas in the state final, 3-0, after winning each of its quarterfinal and semifinal matches, 2-1.
“All the credit for this award goes to my coaching staff and my players,” Gunn told Outsports. “I hate false humility, don’t mistake me. I know I’m doing some things right here but at the end of the day, these kids are my purpose and I mean that so deeply. I have plans and a philosophy and goals and everything else that a coach needs in themselves.
“But my kids are who make it a reality. Winning this award means a recognition of my hard work but for myself, winning this award is a reflection and recognition of the kids I love more than anything in the world.”
Get off the sidelines and into the game
Our weekly playbook is packed with everything from locker room chatter to pressing LGBTQ sports issues.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
Kearsarge Regional High School, with a total enrollment of about 500 students, is based in Sutton, N.H., a town of only 2,000 people about a half hour northwest of the state capital of Concord.
The school was not shy in celebrating his incredible award.
“Your leadership on and off the field makes a difference in every athlete you coach,” Kearsarge Regional High School posted on Instagram. “Thank you for the time, energy, and heart you pour into this program.”
Related
Wearing a Pride shirt inspired gay college soccer captain to come out
Couper Gunn gained strength on and off the field after deciding to stop hiding.
Gunn played college soccer for NCAA Division III Colby-Sawyer College, where he came out publicly as gay.
“As far as the season goes, it was historic,” Gunn said. “A first state championship game in 32 years for the school and a 19 game unbeaten run are two records I will likely never break. I had an incredibly talented team that, after after years with them, truly represented what my philosophy as a coach is for which they deserve all the credit.
“Though we came up short in the final, we made history.”
Like most good coaches, Gunn is putting the accomplishments of him and his team during the 2025 season in the rearview mirror and already focusing on 2026.
“We are returning three first-team all-state players next year,” Gunn said, “and so I expect us to be in a final again next season just with a different outcome.”
Couper Gunn is a history teacher at Kearsarge Regional High School.
Huge congratulations to Gunn and all the coaches and players on the boys soccer team at Kearsarge Regional High School for such a great season!
Subscribe to the Outsports newsletter to keep up with your favorite out athletes, inspiring LGBTQ sports stories, and more.
The post Young out coach wins Coach of the Year award in rural America appeared first on Outsports.
