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Coach's Corner: Salem's Scott Connolly

Wednesday, October, 17 By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer

What was your first Salem varsity football game like?
My sophomore year at Lynn Classical was the first time I carried the ball. I was on kickoffs all year. I ran a trap out of halfback and picked up a few yards. Absolutely, I was nervous. I didn't want to mess up. I didn't want a letdown because a sophomore was in there. We won the game. My brother Eric was an outside linebacker on that team.

How about your debut as a head coach in New York?
That was at Fieldston, a private school in the Bronx, about three miles from Yankee Stadium. We won over Sacred Heart of Yonkers, 7-6. We blocked a PAT kick. The kids believed in a new staff. That made a big difference. My parents (Bert and Kathy) were there. They attended a number of Fieldston games. It was a good, emotional day. I went to Fieldston after coaching at Springfield College as a grad assistant.

Your first varsity game as head coach at Salem High? North Shore Tech. Kynan Mello had a great game for Tech. We got on the scoreboard first, but we didn't have an answer for Mello. Our kids fought hard. The next week we lost to Peabody and were coming off a tough (winless) year. We had lost 13 straight, but typical of Salem kids, they never hung their heads. Which was great.

What's it's like to coach football at your alma mater?
It's an honor. I also gained invaluble experience at Bridgton Academy and Ithaca College, but it all started in Salem. My parents were very supportive in everything I did. The first teacher to influence me was Dave Wilbur at the Witchcraft Heights. I met him in fourth grade. He later was my freshman football coach. I learned from Coach (Ken) Perrone how important it was to be surrounded by a good staff. Any time you're involved with100 kids you need coaches to direct them on and off the field. I Iearned about work ethic from Sean Gallagher, and Coach (Al) Giardi was another big influence. He coached the running backs and was my baseball coach.

When did wrestling come into your picture?
My senior year was Sean's first year as wrestling coach. Wrestling was a no-brainer. I had nothing to do in the winter. I was probably .500 as a heavyweight that one high school year. I had the great fortune to be a Division 3 All-America in both wrestling and football at Ithaca. I wasn't ready for college and went to Bridgton Academy, the only post-grad school in the country. Bridgton was a great fit for me. Bridgton was one of the best things I ever did."

Was becoming a teacher-coach your early ambition?
Once I knew I was getting into education I knew eventually I'd like to come back to Salem. I felt I wanted to do physical education, which probably started when I did PE with Dave Wilbur.

Who is the most important person you have met?
My wife, Renee.

Did you have a role model as a kid?
When I was young in Pop Waner I had a lot of admiration for my brother Eric, as well as John Keenan, a great player I watched at the high school games. That's a name I heard a lot, and he wore jersey No. 35, which traditionally went to the top linebacker.

Who is the best high school opponent you faced?
Brian Vaughan of Lynn English.

Your biggest football thrill in high school?
As a junior we won the Northeastern Conference, but the friends I made was the best part of my career. That's what I took out of high school ball. Kids like Mike Giardi, George MacDonald, Rob Raymond, Jermaine Sattiewhie, Matt Canney and little Joe Correnti. I could go on and on. I had some tremendous teammates.