Sherri Retif, the longtime head coach of Germantown Academy’s girls’ basketball team and a member of the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame, will be stepping down from her coaching duties this winter.

Retif has led the Patriots for the past 25 seasons and will stay at GA as a member of the middle school faculty as a physical education instructor. Philadelphia native Lauren Power was hired in June to take over the program.

“I’ve coached 37 years overall,” she told The Chestnut Hill Local, “and all things come to an end. It’s been a great run and a lot of fun.”

Retif finished her career with a record of 772 wins and 215 losses. She co-authored More Than a Game in 2006, was a contributing author for Youth Sport and Spirituality in 2015 and authored “The Soul of Sports” in America Magazine in 2020. 

“I am grateful for the opportunity I had to coach some of the most amazing young women to wear a Patriot uniform,” Coach Retif said in a press release. “Their successes and triumphs are held dear to my heart: as people I hold them even dearer. The twists and turns and highs and lows of basketball enriched my life and helped me grow as a coach and a person. To all my former captains, your ability to lead is still etched in my memory. It was a pure privilege to be a part of your legacy. Thanks to our amazing administration, particularly Tim Ginter, Dakota Carroll, and Rich Schellhas. I am most grateful for the love and support of Bender, Cameron, Makayla, and Stan. You made the experience even more worthwhile. Love to all Patriot fans.” 

In related news, Xavier Stearn, a 6’5″ 190-pound sophomore from Fort Washington, is GA’s starting quarterback heading into the 2023 season.

“We’ve had some pretty good sophomore starters,” GA coach Matthew Dence told The Times Herald. “I think Xavier should be the best out of all of them as a sophomore.”

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Photos courtesy of Germantown Academy, QBHitList.com