William “Bill” G. Cofrin Jr. was born on February 26, 1950, in Waltham, Massachusetts, to William G. Cofrin Sr. and Mary (McCarthy) Cofrin. He was raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, before settling in Derry, New Hampshire, where he became a cornerstone of the local athletic community.

During the Vietnam War, Cofrin served in the United States Navy. He held the rank of Opticalman Third Class (OM3), a technical rating responsible for the maintenance and repair of binoculars, telescopes, and optical fire-control equipment used for navigation and shipboard weaponry. Following his honorable discharge, he transitioned into a career as an educator and a pioneer in athletic training.

In New Hampshire, Cofrin was best known for his long-standing tenure at Pinkerton Academy in Derry. He served as the school’s first NATA Certified Athletic Trainer, a role he held for 26 years. Beyond the training room, he was a dedicated coach for the Astros’ girls’ and boys’ lacrosse programs and soccer teams, influencing generations of student-athletes through his mentorship and technical expertise in sports medicine.

Cofrin was a member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and the New Hampshire Athletic Trainers Association. He passed away on April 15, 2012, at the age of 62. He was laid to rest at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, honored for both his military service and his decades of contribution to New Hampshire youth athletics.

“Bill was an incredible teacher and was a fantastic colleague. He supported new teachers in learning the content of psychology and listened when they shared their thoughts and ideas. He had high expectations and he helped everyone meet those.” – Ms. Jen Resmini, Pinkerton Dean of Faculty

“Bill Cofrin was a teacher at Pinkerton for many years and helped shape the Psychology classes into one of the most popular electives on campus. He helped create the Psychology Fair, which is now named in his honor. He was a generous mentor and gifted instructor. He could work with students at any level and he made the material engaging and relevant to his students.” – Mr. Crowell, Social Studies Teacher

Mr. Cofrin made an immediate impact as an Athletic Trainer within the athletic department. As soon as he covered his first Lacrosse game, he was hooked! He soon became involved as a Coach at all levels and was a tremendous asset to the program for many years.”  -Coach Murphy