By Reid Campbell

In the halls of Collegiate’s Middle School, Allie Albright (’09) stands out not just for being such a great teacher but also for her unwavering commitment to shaping the lives of her students. As a math teacher and dedicated soccer coach, Albright has made a significant impact on her students and players, and I am one of them.

Albright saving a shot as goalie.

Albright’s journey at Collegiate began when she moved from Vermont to Richmond and joined in 1st Grade, and her mother, Upper School math department chair Karen Albright, began teaching here. Her love for soccer began during her time at the school, and she played for the Richmond Strikers, a developmental youth soccer program. By 7th Grade, she had become a varsity soccer starter. Albright had to have surgery during her Junior year season due to a hip injury, and she was sidelined for the state championship in 2008. She returned as a starter her Senior year. She earned many accolades, including first team for All LIS, All VISAA, and All Metro and honorable mention for All American. 

Graduating in 2009, she earned the opportunity to play Division I soccer at the University of Richmond. In her freshman year of college, she suffered another significant hip injury, which caused her to redshirt her first year. During her sophomore year at Richmond, she had two more major hip injuries, causing her to not be able to play soccer again. She stayed on the team for the next four years, yet couldn’t play. Albright said that she “dealt with hip dysplasia” and “rushed recoveries, ignoring the early symptoms of the problems.” Rushing the healing process after her injuries caused her to be sidelined from soccer for the rest of her time in college.

After college, she continued to graduate school at the University of Concordia: Portland while tutoring and nannying, and she spent seven years around the country working at different schools. As COVID-19 hit, Albright returned to Richmond and began working at Collegiate to teach and help coach both the boys and girls varsity soccer teams.

Albright on the sidelines in the 2023 boys state final.

Her dual role as an educator and coach has allowed her to foster meaningful relationships with her students, both in and out of the classroom. Her favorite thing about coaching on the soccer field “is the relationships” she makes while helping the players learn and get better. On the boys side, she is the assistant coach working alongside head coach and program leader Rob Ukrop (’88), and on the girls side she primarily works with the goalkeepers. 

This year, Albright wants to continue the record-breaking and dominant runs that the boys and girls soccer teams have simultaneously had. The boys won the Prep League title in 2023, while the girls won their LIS league title this past spring. After that, both teams ended up making dominant runs in the state tournament, winning their state championships. 

When asked about her ambitions this fall for the boys team a few weeks ago, in the midst of their season, Albright said she wanted to continue “being the best we can be.” This past spring, several Senior players graduated, leaving big spots to fill for the upcoming players. Albright mentioned at the time “how well the players are filling into positions they may not be most comfortable in,” speaking highly of the team. The boys varsity team ended up with a 15-2-4 record, ending their season with a 2-3 loss in a VISAA quarterfinal match against Bishop O’Connell High School on Monday, November 4.

Coaching girls in state finals.

For me, Albright was a turning point in my academic journey. My friend and fellow Junior Owen Lingerfelt (’26) agreed, saying, “Ms. Albright was one of the best teachers I have ever had.” In 7th Grade, I struggled with math. I had just been moved down a class level, and I was feeling overwhelmed and discouraged when I didn’t know a problem. Albright, however, was different than past teachers. We had just gotten back from school after the pandemic-induced virtual spring 2020 semester, and she was a new teacher. We had to stay six feet apart, and it was hard to make relationships with people due to the restrictions on talking and getting close to each other. Albright’s approach was different; she took the time to understand the struggles I had and would change her teaching methods to meet my needs if I wasn’t understanding. Her positivity could be seen in every class, and she would always make math class exciting.

Beyond her coaching and teaching, Albright showcases the values of perseverance and resilience. Through her story of many injuries and challenges, she inspires her students and players, highlighting that setbacks can lead to growth. This not only encourages her athletes but also encourages her students to take challenges head-on, with a positive attitude. 

All photos courtesy of Allie Albright.