Swimming and Diving, Boys: Varsity

Patricia Batchelor

Head Coach

Prior to joining the faculty at Deerfield, Tricia taught European history and helped coach the varsity swim teams for three years at Taipei American School. Tricia and her husband Michael love to travel and learn about various cultures and their histories.

Tricia attended Williams College for her undergraduate studies in history and psychology. After working in children’s publishing and then teaching both world and U.S. history at Loomis Chaffee, Tricia enrolled in graduate school, earning dual Master’s degrees in International and World History from Columbia University and the London School of Economics.

Tricia’s other great passion is swimming. She swam competitively from the age of five through college. At Williams, she also served as the co-captain of the women’s team her senior year. She has coached swimming since she was 17 years old and she is thrilled to have the chance to continue this work with the boys’ swim team at Deerfield. 

Jason Cook

Assistant Coach

Jason has been Deerfield Academy’s diving coach since 2012. He has been diving competitively for over ten years.

Jason attended the Amherst Regional High School where he was a three-time All-American diver, holds the Amherst Regional High School diving record (355.00), holder of the WMass diving record (575.50) and, Massachusetts state diving record (622.05).

He most recently competed for the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he was the first diver in UMASS history to compete at the NCAA Division 1 Diving Championships. During his four years there he broke both Atlantic 10 diving records, scoring 636.85 in the one-meter and 680.75 in the three-meter at his first career Atlantic 10 Championships, holds the all-time record at UMASS in the three-meter with a score of 395.05 and ranks first all-time in the one-meter (334.50).

Outside of the pool Jason loves being outdoors, scuba diving, bowling, and spending time with friends and family.

Mark Spencer

Assistant Coach

Mark Spencer arrived at Deerfield Academy in 2013 and immediately stepped into the role of Assistant Coach for the Deerfield swim team.  In his years coaching at Deerfield, the Big Green have won one New England Championship and narrowly missed repeating that feat the following season.  Mark enjoys watching the growth and development of the swimmers and is proud of the fact that since his arrival, Deerfield has produced over 15 All-Americans.  In the fall, Mark serves as an assistant coach for the boys varsity soccer team. 

Mark attended Dansville Central High School in Western New York where he focused on distance swimming and served as Captain his senior year.  As an adult he competed in the swimming leg of the Cayuga Lake Triathlon, where his team came in second place. While attending Hartwick College, Mark turned his athletic attentions to soccer where he played "wherever they needed me, except goalie."  Mark has spent the majority of his career in college admissions working at Vassar College, Cornell University, and Brandeis University.  After serving as Dean of Admissions for many years, he chose to move to the "other side of the desk" as a Director of College Advising for Deerfield.

Mark very much enjoys being a part of the Deerfield community and sharing all it has to offer with his wife and two daughters.  His favorite ways to exercise these days include cycling and hiking when he can find the time.