Cole Etten has been a part of the Hollis Brookline community for many years. To some, he may appear to be the quiet person greeting students before school or the voice of reason when solving a problem in his office, but inside of him is a world that we should all get to know.

Cole Etten was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1990. He lived in Wisconsin until the age of 10 and moved to Hollis, NH, where he began to grow his deep roots. He played football and basketball growing up in both states with his two older brothers and has fond memories of excelling in both, but soon realized his passion for basketball.

Playing both sports throughout Hollis Brookline Middle School and High School helped him meet many friends, as well as taught him the role of working within a team to achieve certain goals.

After High School, Etten attended UNH undergraduate school, where he majored in Math. He later enjoyed coaching kids, as this was a way of giving back to something he really enjoyed and felt that teaching and coaching were quite similar.

After graduating college in 2013, Etten completed his Masters in Special Education at Southern New Hampshire University (2016) and a Doctorate in Leadership (2022).

Etten began his teaching career at the Hollis Primary School in 2013, he started working as a Science teacher  moving his way up, gaining confidence and tenor throughout the Hollis School system and in 2019,

He joined the Hollis/Brookline High School, as a math teacher.  2025 presented a unique opportunity for Etten, as there was an opening for a Vice Principal’s position and he took full advantage of it.

Cole Etten’s education career was on a positive path, but he still missed the coaching part of his life. He spent so many years being coached, excelling in basketball and now was the time where he wanted to give something back. His school schedule allowed him the time to devote towards after school programs and being single, without any pets, this was a perfect fit for him.

When asked, he stated firmly, “ I always wanted to be part of the Hollis/Brookline Community and give something back, from a teaching and coaching perspective.”

Cole Etten was the head coach for Bishop Brady High School (Concord NH) from 2014-2017 and part of the 2014-2015 state championship team. He recorded an impressive 48-22 record during his time at this school.

He coached the Hollis/Brookline High School basketball team to a state championship in 2018 and co-runner up in Division II in 2019-2020.

He was the head coach of Windham HS from 2021-2022 and joined St. Anselm’s basketball program in 2022 and currently works  as a volunteer assistant coach.

Cole continues to help out at local basketball camps and give back to the young children who enjoy playing the game. He follows all of the Boston sports teams and still continues to follow his Wisconsin teams, including the University of Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Brewers.

Cole Etten’s move to Hollis not only benefitted him from an education and sports standpoint, but allowed him to grow strong roots in the community. He saw the chance to give back not only to his fellow teachers, but to the students who he taught in the primary school and now sees many of them at  the High School.

Etten’s time in the Hollis Brookline school system is an inspiration, like many of his coworkers, as he continues to add value, support and guidance for so many.