Canton, shown playing Avon in November on the new artificial turf surface at the high school, is continuing to search for a new football coach
Canton is continuing its search for a new high school football coach. The school originally had a deadline of January 31 for applications. Now, there is no set deadline for applications.
“We’ve extended the posting to make sure we get a good cross section of candidates,” Canton athletic director Craig DeAngelis said. “We want to make sure we bring in someone who can come to Canton and help us build a program over the long haul.”
In late January, DeAngelis said the school had received a sizable amount of applications. A five-person committee is reviewing the applications.
The school is looking for a replacement for Paul Philippon, who coached for the past three seasons, posting a record of 24-9. Last fall, the Warriors were 10-2, won the Pequot Uncas Division championship with a perfect 9-0 record and earned a spot in the CIAC Class S playoffs for the first time ever, losing to eventual Class S Small Division champion Capital Prep/Achievement First.
The Warriors did it with a roster of just 26 players. And that is one of the reasons, Philippon resigned shortly after the season – the uncertain future of the program. Next fall, Canton is looking at 18 returning players – eight juniors, nine sophomores and a freshman.
DeAngelis said that the returning players and a few other students have been in the weight room, working out in preparation for the 2015 campaign. DeAngelis said that the current players are doing a good job of stirring up additional interest but the bottom line is that the team needs more players to survive – never mind be successful.
Canton dropped varsity football midway through the 1960 season due to a lack of players and dropped the program for good in 1964 at midseason for the same reason. The program was reinstated in 2007.
DeAngelis said the plan is for Canton to field a varsity team next fall.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login