Chris & Coach; Beyond the Box Score Podcast

Wesleyan tennis head coach Mike Fried is the first non-Wesleyan alum to join the Chris & Coach podcast. The two-time NCAA National Coach of the Year – men’s in 2017 and women’s in 2019 – has led the Cardinals to unprecedented success in his 10 years at the helm of both programs. In this interview, Fried discusses his path to coaching and what drew him to Wesleyan, the importance of team culture and camaraderie, and he relives the 2019 Women’s National Championship match in which the Cardinals defeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 5-4.

The all-time three-point leader in Wesleyan men’s basketball history recently joined Chris and Coach to discuss his young career thus far. After graduating from Wes in 2017, Harry Rafferty took a shot at playing professionally after seeing one of his best friends, Duncan Robinson of the Miami Heat, reach the NBA. Rafferty discusses the grind of trying to make it to the league which included a stint in the NBA G-League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce in 2019. Recently, he was elevated to Assistant Coach for the University of Michigan women’s basketball team.

Mike Whalen’s (Coach) college roommate, Steve Sorkin ’83, joined the podcast to reminisce with his good friend and former Wesleyan football teammate. Sorkin and Whalen shared several memories from their playing days in Middletown. They also went on to coach together, and against each other, for several years post-graduation before Sorkin made a career change and got into sales. The Wesleyan University fight song leader is extremely passionate about his alma mater, and it is evident throughout this interview.

Former Wesleyan dual-sport athlete (basketball and baseball), Christopher Roellke ’87, is now the President at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Roellke joined Chris & Coach to relive his days in Middletown, tell stories about legendary coaches Herb Kenny and Peter ‘Kosty’ Kostacopoulos, talk about how he met his wife Kim at Wes, and he discusses his path to becoming a University President, among much more.

Following an incredible baseball career as an undergraduate for the Cardinals, in which he was named to the NESCAC All-Conference Team three times and set the program record for doubles, Julian Sonnenfeld ’11 is now helping athletes perform at their best for a living. Sonnenfeld is currently a fellow in Sports Medicine, Shoulder & Elbow surgery in North Carolina, where he is enjoying a fellowship as a Team Physician for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL).

Avery Esdaile ’00 is currently the athletic director for Boston Public Schools. Prior to that, he spent 12 years at Wellesley College in the Athletic Department. The former Wesleyan men’s basketball player joined Chris & Coach to talk about his career path, his current job and the impact of Covid-19 on sports, and how he got into athletic administration.

Blair Ingraham ’14 played field hockey for four years at Wesleyan under head coach Patti Klecha-Porter and two years of women’s lacrosse under head coach Holly Wheeler. After a successful playing career, she returned to Middletown to pursue her Master’s degree while acting as a graduate assistant coach for both programs, learning from Klecha-Porter and current women’s lacrosse coach Kim Williams. Ingraham, who has a strong family history at Wesleyan, is now an Associate Director of Admission, and Field Hockey and Girls’ Lacrosse Program Director, at the St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I.

Kyle Weiss ’12, a former two-sport (baseball, football) athlete for the Cardinals, is now the Running Backs Coach for UConn Football. Weiss rejoins his former head coach, now athletic director Mike Whalen ’83, to relive his football playing days in Middletown and how his career in coaching began. Weiss also tells the story about how he met his wife, Jenna Waters Weiss, who is an Administrative Assistant in the Athletics Department.

Mark Molina '81, a former football player and teammate of Athletic Director Mike Whalen '83, reminisces about his playing days with Coach while talking about their time on campus. Following graduation, Molina traveled through Europe before attending law school at the University of Michigan. After a successful career in corporate law, he shifted gears and purchased the first Orangetheory Fitness in Connecticut. He now owns multiple Orangetheory Fitness' within the state.

Kathy Keeler ’78 is the only Wesleyan graduate to win an Olympic gold medal, as she helped stroke the women’s eight crew to a top finish at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. Keeler, who was inducted into the Wesleyan Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008, caught up with Chris & Coach to reminisce about both her days in Middletown and competing in the Olympics. The gold medalist reflects on her time at Wes, in which she played multiple sports throughout her career, and also tells some incredible stories about qualifying for the Olympics and what it was like to walk in the parade.