Marauders Newest Coach Meets Community

Last week in the gymnasium, the local community was formally introduced to local Dedham resident and Dedham High Hall of Famer David Flynn, who returns home to be the new head coach of Dedham High football for the 2011 season.

Flynn will be taking the helm after a dismal 1-10 season and what he called a ‘dark cloud’ over the team during the past season with both sub-par performances both on-and-off the field by Dedham players.

“I know a lot of people want things done differently. I heard the stories and it broke my heart,” Flynn said in his opening speech to about a hundred parents, players and community members.

Flynn, a former Marauder who was a Globe All-Scholastic in 1989, led his Marauders to the state final to face powerhouse Brockton in the Super Bowl at Foxboro Stadium. He reminisced briefly about his playing days but wanted those in the community to understand that his focus is on the kids of today in hope of building a brighter future for the entire community of Dedham, not just his players.

“I don’t care about what I did in '89," he said. "I care about today and what happens tomorrow.”

Flynn introduced his coaching staff, but he also included the Dedham High cheerleading coach, the Pop Warner president and mentioned the band as important contributors to building unity within the school as well as the town.

“Unity, that’s what its all about, an everlasting experience,” Flynn said as his talk lasted 40 minutes and covered everything from academics, to fundraising and supporting the entire community, to freshman football.

“I want 20 guys going out for freshman football," he added. "I want kids to want to grow up to be Marauders.”

Current player Shane Lowe, a running back and linebacker, expects big things for this year’s squad both on-and-off the gridiron. “A lot of big things, a lot of changes, a lot more hard work and dedication to the football team and to each other and to the town,” he said.

Flynn passed out an outline of his philosophy and coaching goals and objectives as head coach. He cited commitment to excellence, competitiveness, teamwork, discipline, tenacity, class and fun as benchmarks for his group of players this season and hopefully beyond.

“I made a life-changing decision to be a high school football coach,” said Flynn, who on numerous occasions referred to his job as a life-long dream to come home to be a head coach.

“This is my hometown," he said. "This is where I want to live and raise my family. When the opportunity arose, I knew it was really special.”

Flynn also discussed his style of play, calling it “power football” where coaches at the Pop Warner level could begin following suit in hopes of one day Dedham players playing the same style at “ten-fold” in the coming years.

“Attack style defense, we are going to have some fun” assured the coach.

“We got to build those bridges making sure those kids are academically successful and socially successful and physically successful,” he added.