By David Willis
dwillis@eagletribune.com
June 30, 2009 02:03 am ANDOVER — After 17 years as head baseball coach and 13 years as head football coach at Andover High, Ken Maglio was informed yesterday that he was being let go by the school in both sports. "It was a shock to say the least," said Maglio. "I got a phone call during (Andover Warriors Baseball School). I went to the athletic office and was given a letter saying I would not be rehired." Golden Warriors athletic director Chris Bergeron confirmed the decision. "It has been a process of evaluating the entire (Andover) program in my first year as athletic director," he said. "We decided to make the move as a way to improve the future of our programs for five and 10 years down the line." Maglio stated that he was blindsided by the news. "It really hurts a lot," said Maglio, who is already retired as a teacher. "I have given my heart and soul and have been involved in this town for 40 years. I love the kids. All of my evaluations have been excellent. It's tough to figure out. I was going to retire after next year. I want my name to be a good name. I don't know what the reasons are." Supporting Maglio is Tom Meyers, the president of the Andover Educators Association, the union for teachers and other school employees. "We are very surprised," said Meyers. "There is a whole process that needs to be followed. Every coach is evaluated every year, and Ken has indicated all of his evaluations were excellent. We are shocked and we are going to follow due process and file a grievance. "We intend to litigate for Ken. We absolutely want to get his job back. This all seems very bizarre." Maglio was named head baseball coach in February of 1993, at 43-years-old, after 22 years as Andover freshman baseball coach. He replaced Dave Bettencourt, who won back-to-back Division 1 state titles in 1991-92. Maglio remained behind the bench for 17 years, racking up a 252-131 career record and winning four straight Merrimack Valley Conference titles from 2004-2007. His Warriors were 12-10 this spring (1-1 in the state tourney), and won the Lawrence Invitational tourney. He took over as head football coach in 1996 after years as an assistant, following the departure of Dick Collins, who held the position for 37 years and managed a 220-138-14 mark. In his 13 years at the helm, Maglio complied a 65-68-2 record, earning Eagle-Tribune Coach of the Year in 2004 after a 10-1 mark. In 2008, with a team that returned just six starters from the previous year, the Warriors finished 4-7. But they did down archrival Central Catholic 27-16 on Thanksgiving Day — their third straight win over the Raiders. "We have great respect for Ken Maglio and the job he has done," said Bergeron, who took over as athletic director last July. "But, in terms of evaluating our program, we are looking to go in a different direction." Voicing his backing of Maglio was Collins, his former mentor, who in recent years has returned to help out the football team. "I brought Kenny into the system," said Collins. "He worked as my assistant for many years, and he has been an outstanding individual and a tremendously dedicated teacher and coach. I think the world of him and give him my full support." With the start of the football season approximately six weeks away, Bergeron will not rush to hire a permanent replacement. Instead, he plans to hire an interim coach. "We want a coach on board and established as soon as possible," he said. "But I don't believe there is time to do a full-blown search. That is best left for January and February. So we are in the process of hiring an interim coach, and then we will evaluate the staff and begin preparing for the fall." ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.
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