Credit: Courtesy of David Gavron

WHS history teacher and boys varsity soccer coach David Gavron cheers on the boys soccer team from the sideline. Gavron has been teaching since 1994, and took on the position of head coach for the WHS boys varsity soccer team in 2008. “I want the classroom to be a place where students feel safe and, similarly to the soccer field, I want them to feel like they can take risks,” Gavron said.

Whether he’s on the soccer field or in front of his classes, Wayland High School History teacher and boys varsity soccer coach David Gavron strives to create a collaborative and fun environment wherever he goes. According to Gavron, his goal as both a teacher and a coach is ensuring that his students receive opportunities for academic and extracurricular growth.

Gavron played soccer throughout high school and fell in love with the sport. He continued playing while at Saint Anselm College, but he was not ready to stop there.  He followed his love for soccer to his alma mater, Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, Massachusetts, where he taught History classes and assisted coach Lennie Emmons. At Maconomet, Gavron went on to be the head coach of the JV girl’s soccer team for seven years. While still teaching at Masconomet, Gavron coached the girl’s varsity soccer team at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School for three years before coming to Wayland.

In 2004, Gavron was offered a teaching position at WHS, and coached the freshman girl’s soccer team. The next year, Gavron moved over to the boy’s side and coached the JV boy’s soccer team. Gavron also became the boy’s head coach. Since becoming head coach in 2008, Gavron has shaped the team into what it is today. He has led the team to three state titles and is planning to continue putting titles on the board.

“I have been really lucky to teach and coach in the same school,” Gavron said. “The opportunities to make connections outside of the soccer field have been really important to the overall success of my teaching, coaching and the program. The success we have had as a soccer program is rooted in the fact that I have been able to get incredible assistant coaches.”

Gavron believes that what keeps the fun and liveliness of the program is connected with the team’s past, so Gavron often invites former players, like Class of 2002 alum Charles Goodhue, to assist him in his coaching. In the past 34 years, Gavron has also worked at soccer camps throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

“On the soccer field, I want my boys to know that they can take risks,” Gavron said. “But, on the field, we have to play together in order to be successful.”

Gavron believes that his previous mentorship experiences have shaped his own coaching styles. Throughout his lifetime, he has been mentored by coaches who made him love and respect soccer. Gavron also uses his coaching experiences to coach his son, junior Jack Gavron, who is a current player on the Wayland boys varsity soccer team.

“I actually really enjoy having him as a coach,” J. Gavron said. “It’s nice having him treat me like any other player. I like how passionate my dad is for the game, and how he also works super hard to improve our abilities as players and individual people.”

D. Gavron’s coaching style demonstrates his belief that passion and dedication play a crucial role in the success of a sports team. According to senior varsity boys soccer captain Zach Rainville, D. Gavron’s coaching style is one to be admired.

“[D. Gavron] always does a great job showing us that there’s more to [soccer] than just the game,” Rainville said. “He always says that family is first, school is second and soccer is third. This [message] has really reflected how the team turns into a family by the end of the season.”

D. Gavron also uses his humor to make a safe and comfortable environment for his players and students.

“I think that I try to use humor to make connections with people, [but] I feel that in the classroom, humor can [sometimes] turn some kids off,” D. Gavron said. “[Nevertheless], I want the classroom to be a place where students feel safe, and that they can take chances. Similarly to the soccer field, I want [my students] to feel like they can take risks.”

Not only does D. Gavron have a large impact on some of his players’ lives, but also in some of his students’ lives because of his supportive teaching style.

“[D. Gavron] always goes into detail when he is explaining the big assignments to make sure we do the right thing,” sophomore Annie Melander said. “I can tell he really wants us to succeed in his class and just in general.”

D. Gavron cherishes his time working for WHS and looks forward to the rest of his career.

“I hope that I am able to finish out my career teaching and coaching here at Wayland strong,” D. Gavron said.