St Mary’s Names Sean Driscoll Football Coach

St. Mary’s has named former Winthrop High coach Sean Driscoll its head football coach, replacing Matt Durgin, who resigned at the end of January after 10 years in the position.

Driscoll has been coaching football for 25 years, including the last 11 as varsity coach in Winthrop, where he led the Vikings to a 10-win season, Northeastern Conference championship and MIAA Div. 4 North final berth in 2014.

“I love coaching football and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to coach at St. Mary’s,” said Driscoll, a close friend of Durgin. “When I heard that Matt was stepping down, I took a look at the St. Mary’s position, and everyone I talked to had nothing but positive things to say about the academics at the school and the athletic program.”

“We feel very fortunate to attract a coach the caliber of Sean Driscoll,” St. Mary’s Athletic Director Jeff Newhall said. “We’re very confident he will carry on the tradition of excellence established by Matt.”

Newhall said there were 27 applicants for the job, including five current or former varsity coaches and a college assistant coach.

A lifelong Winthrop resident who played high school football for legendary coach Bob DeFelice, Driscoll began his coaching career under Shawn Maguire in 1993. After five years as an assistant in Burlington, he worked as an assistant to Tony Fucillo in Winthrop from 1998-2006, serving as a line coach and defensive coordinator. Driscoll succeeded Fucillo as head coach in 2007.

“I followed a great coach in 2007 and I’m following a great coach now,” said Driscoll, who is the director of parks and recreation in Winthrop. “Matt and I have very similar philosophies. Football has been very good to me and it’s a good character builder for kids.”

While he has never coached at a private school, Driscoll is looking forward to it.

“St. Mary’s is like its own little community and family,” he said. “Matt had nothing but great things to say about the school, as did David Brown (St. Mary’s boys basketball coach and a Winthrop police officer).”

Driscoll, who will meet with the St. Mary’s team for the first time Wednesday, said his first priority will be to get to know the players. “There are kids from different communities and different backgrounds,” he said. “I’m looking forward to establishing relationships.”

Driscoll and his wife, Cindy, have three children: Dylan, a junior at Plymouth State University; Caylyn, a senior at Winthrop High who will attend Clemson University; and Olivia, a sophomore at Winthrop High.