Certifications include US Ski and Snowboard Referee and time and calculations, Crossfit Level 1 Trainer, and trained in the Burdenko Method.
Harvard Athletics announced the hiring of Scott MacPherson as the Paul J. Finnegan Family Head Coach for Harvard Skiing (Alpine) on June 16, 2017. In June 2020, the alpine coaching position was endowed, and his title changed to The Peter H. Carter '69 Head Coach for Harvard Alpine Skiing. MacPherson enters his 10th season leading the Crimson in 2026-27 after previously serving as an assistant coach with the program from 2015-17.
A nationally respected leader in alpine skiing, MacPherson holds a U.S. Ski & Snowboard Level 200 Coach certification as well as official certifications as a Referee, Technical Delegate, and Timing & Calculation Official. He also carries certifications as a CrossFit Trainer, HYROX Trainer, and a USA Olympic Weightlifting Coach. In addition to his coaching credentials, MacPherson has played an active role in the governance of collegiate skiing, serving four years on the EISA Executive Committee as Vice President and President. He currently serves on the Eastern Alpine Competition Committee and the Eastern Development Committee for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Eastern Region. MacPherson also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Ski Coaches Association and began serving on the NCAA Ski Committee as a Division I coaches' representative in Fall 2026.
Under MacPherson's leadership, Harvard has qualified student-athletes for the NCAA Championships in six consecutive seasons from 2019 through 2026, a testament to the sustained excellence and consistency of the Crimson alpine program. During that span, he has coached multiple NCAA qualifiers, earned EISA Coach of the Year honors twice, and mentored numerous All-Ivy and Academic All-Ivy performers while helping elevate Harvard's standing among the nation's top collegiate alpine programs.
Before joining Harvard Athletics, MacPherson spent eight seasons as head coach at Boston College, guiding the program's transition from USCSA competition to membership in EISA and earning the MacConnell Division Coach of the Year award in 2010. Prior to coaching in the collegiate ranks, MacPherson worked with the Waterville Valley BBTS weekend program. A 2002 graduate of Colby College, MacPherson began his coaching career at the Noble and Greenough School, where his teams produced five undefeated seasons and captured a New England championship. He earned a master's degree in Higher Education while at Boston College in 2013.
