Our Team
John Gardner
Director of Hockey
John Gardner is the winningest coach in prep hockey with over 800 wins over his 47-year career at Avon Old Farms. John is widely regarded as the preeminent voice in prep hockey, and his track record of coaching and developing college, Olympic, and professional players speaks for itself.
John is, first and foremost, an educator, and he brings this same approach to Pathway to Prep. Along with his storied coaching career, John has served as a master teacher, advisor, athletic director, and associate head of school. John knows prep school, inside and out, and is a believer in the power of a boarding school education.
In developing this unique opportunity for student-athletes, John is committed to helping each player gain exposure to prep coaches while also providing industry-leading services in helping families better understand the admission process and the benefits to a boarding school education.
Brendon Welker
Director of Operations & Programming
Brendon Welker has worked in the education industry for the past 25 years. He spent two decades as a leader in the independent school admission field before becoming an educational consultant in 2016.
Throughout his quarter-century in the admission and planning fields, Brendon has worked with thousands of students on their journey towards independent school and college. Brendon has also specialized in helping student-athletes reach their goals of competing athletically in boarding schools and in the NCAA.
Brendon’s experience in school planning and counseling adds a unique opportunity and advantage for Pathway to Prep participants. As a boarding school graduate, Brendon knows, first-hand, the transformative nature of independent schools and is excited to bring his experience and leadership in the industry to Pathway to Prep.