For Bellows Falls head coach Evan Chadwick, basketball has never been just about wins and losses. It’s been a classroom—one that teaches discipline, resilience, accountability, and what it means to commit fully to something bigger than yourself. Over the course of his playing and coaching career, those lessons have shaped not only how Chadwick approaches the game, but how he measures success within his program.

From Player To Coach

Chadwick’s basketball journey began at Rochester High School, where he played four years, served as a co-captain his junior and senior seasons, and finished his career with just over 1,100 points. From there, he headed south to Elon University in North Carolina, where an attempt to walk on at the Division I level quickly reframed his understanding of the game.

“You go from being the best player in the gym to probably the worst player in the gym,” Chadwick said. “That was humbling.”

That experience, while brief, opened his eyes to the level of commitment required to compete at the highest levels. He later transferred to the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas, where basketball became a full-time job—daily lifts, hundreds of shots, long practices, and constant recovery. The workload was demanding, but Chadwick saw his game steadily improve as a result.

While safety concerns ultimately cut that experience short, he still views it as a pivotal chapter in his basketball life—one that showed him the value of consistency, effort, and embracing the grind, even when results aren’t immediate.

Getting the Coaching Bug

After stepping away from playing, Chadwick found a new connection to the game through coaching—starting at the youth level.

He took over a team of nine-year-olds that struggled mightily early in the season, losing their first five games decisively. But as practices continued and habits improved, so did the results. The team finished the year with two wins, including one against a group that had beaten them by nearly 40 points earlier in the season.

“Seeing those kids improve—and seeing that they knew they were better—was everything,” Chadwick said. “That’s when I got hooked.”

From there, his coaching path continued with an assistant varsity role at Monadnock, a year coaching JV girls basketball at Leland & Gray, and eventually the Bellows Falls varsity boys position in 2008. After seven seasons, a break, and a return, Chadwick is now in his fifth year back leading the Terriers.

Why bellows Falls

Although he lives in Brattleboro, Chadwick has always felt Bellows Falls was the right place to coach.

“I always knew if I came back, Bellows Falls is where I’d want to do it,” he said.

That separation—coaching in one community while living in another—has proven to be a strength. While many high school coaches also teach in the same building they coach in, Chadwick values the ability to reset and avoid burnout.

“I get to do my job, pour everything into the program, and then go home and refresh my brain,” he said. “That balance has helped me stay present and invested year after year.”

Bellows Falls, he believes, offers the perfect combination of pride, passion, and support to sustain a long-term program.

Learning Beyond the Box Score

Chadwick understands that high school basketball comes with unique challenges—many of which extend beyond the court.

“With only five guys on the floor at any given time, it’s a sport where roles and minutes are always under a microscope,” he said.

Rather than shying away from those conversations, Chadwick views them as opportunities for growth. He encourages open communication and stresses the importance of players learning to advocate for themselves.

“I always want the kid to come talk to me first,” Chadwick said. “Those conversations are uncomfortable sometimes, but they’re important. At some point in life, mom or dad won’t be able to step in for you anymore.”

For Chadwick, those moments are less about basketball decisions and more about preparing young men for the realities they’ll face beyond the gym—learning how to ask questions, handle feedback, and respond to adversity with maturity.

“It’s all part of the process,” he said. Basketball just happens to be the vehicle.

Measuring Success Beyond The Scoreboard

While winning is important, Chadwick doesn’t define success solely by a team’s record.

“Did my kids stick it out? Are they better when they leave than when they came in? Do they trust me?” he said. “Are we stronger as a family at the end of the season?”

That family-first mindset is central to the culture he’s built at Bellows Falls. Chadwick sees the program as a place where players learn how to support one another, navigate challenges, and grow into responsible young men.

“If we’re not helping them become better people—better employees, better husbands, better fathers—then we’re in the wrong business,” he said.

Moments, Momentum and Embracing the Grind

Certain moments reinforce why the work is worth it. For Chadwick, the triple-overtime showdown against Green Mountain stands out.

“With a sold-out crowd, back and forth the entire game, there was nowhere else I would have rather been,” he said. “For those 50 minutes, nothing else in the world mattered.”

Those moments, he says, validate the countless hours spent in practice and preparation. They also reflect the growth of the program—both on and off the court. Competing in the B Division has challenged Bellows Falls to raise its level, play tougher schedules, and prepare for high-pressure situations come playoff time.

Chadwick also credits the broader community, including youth coaches and educators, for developing basketball-ready athletes and rebuilding excitement around the sport. With a packed gym and growing support, the foundation is firmly in place.

As for the message he hopes his players carry with them long after the season ends, it’s simple.

“Embrace the grind,” Chadwick said. “You might not see the results right away—you’ll probably be the last one to notice them—but when they come, they’ll hit you hard.”

It’s a lesson Chadwick has lived himself, and one he hopes continues to shape the next generation of Bellows Falls basketball players.