From Humble Origins to Prep School Stardom: The Hallowed Story of Coaches Low and Francis

Near the end of every term, all-school emails flood our inboxes. Our athletic director, Bob Low, and assistant athletic director, Harold Francis, are the first to wish teams good luck and order students to clean up their locker rooms. Given their massive contribution to the school—running the athletic program integral to our school day in and day out—their hallowed tales must be told.

Coach Robertius Low grew up just outside of Copenhagen, Denmark. In the winter, which was year-round, they followed Scandinavian tributaries until they reached the Rhine, after which they invited a young President Emmanuel Macron from his Swiss Chalet to re-enact productions of Ratatouille on Ice, with Macron being the rat. This extensive physical activity sparked Coach Low’s love of sports. “In those moments, I left all my worries and focused solely on moving my body.”

After graduating from the University of Gottingen as a lacrosse player, Coach Low moved to the United States with the dream of living the life he had seen in The Wolf of Wall Street. However, he wearied of capitalism and moved to Leominster, MA, where he encountered Groton School and applied for a job there.

Assistant Athletic Director Harold Francis grew up in swimming camps in Melbourne, Australia. His parents were professional mermaids. Swimming beside his parents in a custom-made tail, he developed a love for athletics.

At the end of seventh grade, his first girlfriend, Deborah, moved to Boston, ending their relationship. Much like in Legally Blonde, Coach Francis made a bet that he could follow her and get admitted to an elite American boarding school. He proved that friend right. The following year he brought his Australian accent (which he has since lost) to St. Mark’s School.

In high school, Coach Francis developed chronic back pain that prevented him from swimming. While recovering, he enjoyed basketball with his friends. “The sound of balls bouncing on the court became music to my ears,” he remarked.

After attending UCLA and earning a master’s in sports leadership from the University of Miami, Coach Francis traveled back to the East Coast and settled at Groton.

For Coach Francis, sports are a portal to his childhood. “Even now, when I see our athletes,” he said, “it brings me back to when I was a student, carefree and enjoying life in the moment.” He loves the excitement every game brings, the teamwork and bonding aspect of sports, and seeing athletes go out of their comfort zone for “the rush of winning.”