48 years in the making…
A Film Honoring A Coaching Legend
The Gentleman Coach is a film project telling the story of Neil Buckley, one of America’s most successful high school wrestling coaches. It is a project close to the heart of its creators, who were both his students and his friends.
Our fundraising goal of $18K will enable us to create a feature length, documentary tribute to Neil at the highest quality. We will premiere the film at The Bryn Mawr Film Institute on Thursday, April 6, 2023, and need your support to bring The Gentleman Coach to the big screen!
Let’s celebrate his life together with an epic night filled with laughter, stories and tribute film that will hopefully inspire you!
A Sneak Peak of the Full Production to Come…
A Coaching Legacy
During Neil Buckley’s 48 years of coaching, he routinely broke records. However, there was something more special and long-lasting that he created at The Haverford School that led to so many victories on and off the wrestling mat. This film is an attempt to capture the magic of Neil’s impact on so many of us in profound ways.
Our project has benefitted greatly because of our access to Neil’s former students, assistant coaches, colleagues, friends, archival materials, and private photos & videos. The Gentleman Coach aims to present the most complete portrait of our coach, teacher, mentor, and friend – bearing witness to a legacy that will always be remembered.
Why We’re Making This Film
The Gentleman Coach is not just story of a single man, but of his impact on our community. It is a story about character, hard work, and the lessons that he imparted to a generation of his students. We will be telling Neil’s story through the voices of the people who experienced his coaching, mentoring, and friendship directly. That is what makes this a fascinating project.
WE WILL KEEP HIS MEMORY ALIVE
He affected the lives of so many in very impactful ways.
His memory lives in all of us!