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Canton is looking for a new football coach after Currier steps down

Canton head coach Chris Currier directs the Warriors during a recent pre-season practice.

Canton head coach Chris Currier has resigned after an 0-10 season.

CANTON – For the second time in two years, the Canton High football team is looking for a football coach. First-year coach Chris Currier resigned in December after a 0-10 campaign.

“We are thankful for all of the time and effort he put in on behalf of the Canton program and hope he can find a coaching fit in the future,” Canton athletic director Craig DeAngelis said.

DeAngelis said that the school is forming a search committee for the position and has already received several applications for the job.

A year ago, DeAngelis was searching for a coach after Paul Philippon resigned after a stellar three-year run as the Warriors’ head coach. Canton won the Pequot Uncas Division championship and qualified for the CIAC Class S tournament for the first time. They finished 10-2, losing to eventual Class S Small Division champion Capital Prep/Achievement First.

But Philippon, a teacher in the Bristol school system, stepped down due to the lack of players in the program, which had declined throughout his tenure. There were just 18 underclassmen left in the program (eight juniors, nine sophomores, one freshman) at the end of the 2014 season.

This year, future prospects are a bit brighter in Canton. The Warriors are losing nine seniors but there were 29 underclassmen in the program (nine juniors, six sophomores, 14 freshmen).

Currier was able to attract more players into the program. But injuries and the youth of the program prevented the Warriors from earning a win. Starting quarterback Alex Higley missed several games with a concussion and the two backup quarterbacks – both freshmen – got hurt. It led to senior fullback Matt Bangs getting a start at quarterback against Coginchaug.

At times, especially in the second half of the season, the Warriors were simply overpowered by stronger, older opponents.

“A lot of younger players stepped up when they thrown to the wolves,” Currier said after a 42-0 loss to Granby in the rain on Thanksgiving Eve. “I greatly appreciate everything they tried to do.”

Chris Currier coaches in Canton's 42-0 loss to Granby on Thanksgiving Eve.

Chris Currier in Canton’s season-ending 42-0 loss to Granby on Thanksgiving Eve.

With Currier being hired last June, Canton had no opportunity to participate in spring practice. “Last year, we didn’t have an offseason,” he said after the Granby game. “We got into the weight room late. It was tough. It takes a while to find out everyone’s personality, character and all. I had six weeks to figure it out. It was a tough beginning. It’s not college where you get hand-picked kids and perfect athletes. You get what you get and you have to mold the guys and build them into what you want them to be.”

He praised his seniors, too. “I appreciate their hard work throughout the season,” he said.

DeAngelis said he hopes to get a new coach hired much sooner this year. Currier, who came to Canton after spending two years as an assistant coach in Rockville, was unavailable for comment on his resignation.

It was the third 0-10 campaign in Canton since the school resurrected the program in 2007. Canton went 0-10 in 2007 under Graham Martin and in 2011 under Roger Pearl. Martin left after the 2007 season to coach at Sport Medicine Science Academy in Hartford. Pearl was let go after the 2011 campaign – his fourth year at the helm.

This season, the Warriors gave up a school-record 396 points, breaking the record of 382 allowed by the 2007 team. Canton also scored 96 points – its lowest since the program was resurrected. The previous low was 114 points scored in 2011.

When the football team first existed from 1934 to 1964, Canton frequently scored under 100 points but the team usually played six to seven games.

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 30 years.

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