Rockets Brace For a Plethora of Coaching Changes
July 7, 2025
• Several high profile head coaches for Needham High varsity teams are stepping down.
Needham High School is one of the top varsity sports programs in Massachusetts, but the Rockets have lost several head coaches the last few years and this summer they’ll be looking for replacements for some of their top teams. That includes field hockey, girls hockey, softball and boys lacrosse.
Steph Magni has been with Needham since 2012 and has been the head coach of both field hockey and softball, though she scaled back with softball this past spring as an assistant. Allison Furano had been the Needham girls hockey coach since 1996, leading the team to state titles in 1999 and 2003. Dave Wainwright has been splitting time between Needham boys lacrosse as well as girls soccer teams in neighboring rival towns, but had been in Needham since 2003, when he led Rockets boys lacrosse to a title in his first season.
Needham Channel Sports Producer Ashleigh Tobin had more on the coaching carousel hitting Needham this summer, on our July 3rd edition of the Needham Channel News. You can check it out by clicking the video box below:
More Stories
Girls Basketball Knocks Off Rival Natick in Overtime
January 23, 2026 • Needham snapped a two-game skid in the win over Natick. In a spectacular Friday night matchup...
Boys Basketball Tames Tigers For Huge Home Win
January 16, 2026 • Needham got revenge for their only loss so far this season. The 2025-2026 season has been...
Boys Sweep Milton at Home
January 16, 2026 • Needham boys basketball is currently 9-1, while boys hockey is 5-2-2. Needham boys basketball kicked off...
Boys Basketball Blasts Rival Wellesley at Home
January 9, 2026 • Needham rebounded with a big win after suffering its first loss of the year. On the...
Girls Basketball Remains Undefeated, Girls Hockey Continues to Struggle
January 9, 2026 • Needham girls basketball improved to 7-0 this week, while girls hockey fell to 1-5. Just over...
Needham Boys Host Brookline for Home Openers
December 19, 2025 • Needham teams went 2-0-1 at home this week. Needham boys basketball and hockey hosted Brookline in...