Robert Kesler
Head Coach 1938-1951
Assistant Coach 1935-1937
Record as Head Coach - 89-13-3

While Norman Hatch was the "Father of Exeter Lacrosse", it was Bob Kesler and his long time assistant and eventual successor Alan Vrooman that led Exeter to her dominant position in prep school lacrosse during the 1940's and into the 1950's. Bob came to Exeter in 1935 as an Instructor in German, after graduating from Princeton in 1932 and teaching at the Pomfret School from 1933 through 1935. Bob brought incredible success to Exeter lacrosse. His record over the 14 year span that he was head coach was an incredible 89-13-3 for a winning percentage of 84.8%!! Coach Kesler led five different teams to undefeated seasons. This included the teams from 1940,1942, 1943, 1944, and 1947. The other amazing fact about Bob's teams is that they had a 12-2 record with Andover over his 14 year head coaching career!! Bob, being an ex midfielder, was the offensive coach of the team, and his long time assistant and successor Alan Vrooman was the man behind the defense. Bob's philosophy was to put the top stick-handlers at inside attack positions, and he reserved the featured crease attack position for a tall, agile, and athletic player. He helped developed arguably Exeter's greatest lacrosse player in crease attackman Stu Lindsay '52. Stu became one of the dominant scorers at both Exeter and Syracuse, where he earned All- American status and an eventual place in the Lacrosse Hall of Fame. The Exeter schedule in Bob's day consisted of only a few prep schools like Andover, Deerfield, Governor Dummer, and Mt Hermon, and instead was dominated by college freshman teams.

Bob was given great administrative responsibilities as the Dean of the Academy from 1956-1969, and Vice Principal from 1967 until his retirement in 1975. Bob was honored by his undefeated team of 1947 at their 40th reunion when they sponsored a permanent lacrosse award named the "Robert W. Kesler '47 (HON) Lacrosse Award". This award in his honor is given to both a boy and girl lacrosse player who demonstrates in his/her daily performance and overall commitment the spirit and dedication for which coach Kesler is remembered. Bob Kesler passed away in 1988, having given 40 years of dedicated service to PEA.