Having compiled an impressive running and coaching background at numerous institutions on the East Coast, Scott Rippeon came on board as an assistant cross country and track coach at Hood in 2003.

The Frederick, Md., native qualified for the 1985 and 1986 NCAA Division III National Cross Country meet as a member of the Washington and Lee University squad. Since his graduation in 1988 from the Virginia school, he began his coaching career at All Saints Cathedral School in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he helped start the program in 1989 following Hurricane Hugo.

After a five-year stint at the Tower Hill School in Wilmington, Del., where he led the girl's cross country team to the 1993 state Independent School Conference championship, Rippeon came back to the area and founded the boy's cross country program at Urbana High School in 1996. Two years later, he began another program, this time at St. John's at Prospect Hall, and, in 2002 was named Coach of the Year by The Frederick News-Post and The Gazette (Frederick) for leading the girl's cross country team to the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland B Division title. He is now employed with Frederick County Public Schools and will be coaching exclusively at Hood.

Rippeon, who ran on the prep level at nearby Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, is certified as a USATF Level I and Level II Distance and Level II Sprints coach. He is also an RRCA certified coach and is a USATF Official (Association Level).