Chamberlain to Lead Braintree Football Program

With a new coach comes new hopes, expectations and aspirations. And after  leading the Sharon High football team to vast improvements on the gridiron the past four seasons, Brian Chamberlain is heading to Braintree as the Wamps’ new head coach.

Chamberlain had planned on leading the Eagles to a promising season in 2011  before accepting the job at Braintree. He replaces Dave Duffy, who guided the program for five years, and led the Wamps to a 3-8 mark last season.

Chamberlain, whose wife is from the area, had no plans on leaving the Eagle program, but said that the opportunity to lead the Wamps’ program was an offer he just couldn’t refuse.

“I loved my time coaching in Sharon, but when the Braintree job opened up, I told Bob (Sondheim, Sharon Athletic Director) that it was something I was going to pursue,’’ Chamberlain said in a recent interview. “The program has a great tradition, and I look forward to this great opportunity.”

For four seasons, Chamberlain guided the Eagles to improvements, including doubling its numbers from 30 in 2007 to 70 last season. The 2010 Eagles finished 1-9-1, ending with a 28-21 Thanksgiving Day loss at Oliver Ames.

However, Chamberlain was optimistic about 2011. Only 12 of his former players will graduate this spring.

"There's certainly progress," he said after the Thanksgiving Day game. "A bunch of our younger guys on the freshman and junior varsity teams are doing well.

Prior to his experience at Sharon High School, Chamberlain spent three years as an assistant at Norwood High School and Natick High School, under his former coach at Northeastern University and legendary Massachusetts high school football Coach Tom Lamb. While at Northeastern University, Chamberlain was a full-scholarship football player and four-year starter for the Huskies. 

“Brian is an experienced football coach, having coached at two of the more successful football schools within the Bay State Conference and then established a football program atmosphere at Sharon High School, which competes in the ultra-competitive Hockomock League,’’ Braintree Athletic Director Mike Denise said in a statement.

“He has a positive reputation of increasing participation within the football program, developing a culture of commitment and pride within the student-athlete and getting the community excited about the program’s product on and off the field.”

The hiring also coincides with some major renovations to the playing facilities at Braintree High School, which will be to be ready by the conclusion of the school year.

Sharon Athletic Director Robert Sondheim said he was not surprised by Chamberlain's move, considering his quick success there. "Everybody he could get to to make a personal approach to say goodbye," he did, Sondheim said.