BROCKTON — Last Thursday, in one in every of his final practices because the coach of Brockton High, Peter Colombo noticed one thing he didn’t like along with his offense.
“Faster. Faster. Faster!,” Colombo mentioned.
It could all be going by too quick for Colombo, who introduced within the offseason that he would retire on the finish of the 2022 season.
He is about to teach his final recreation on Wednesday night time in opposition to Bridgewater-Raynham at Fenway Park.
It is the tip of an period, and perhaps much more than that. Colombo took over in 2003 for his father, Armond, one of many state’s legends. The late Armond Colombo had over 300 wins and turned the Boxers right into a nationwide energy within the Seventies, 80s, and 90s.
A Colombo has been head coach of Brockton since 1969.
“(Armond) won a championship in 1948 (as a player at Brockton) and played in Miami,” Colombo mentioned. “Then he coached me in the first-ever Super Bowl. We both married the girls from the neighborhood and stayed married all those years. It’s been quite a ride.”
The trip each started and ended with profitable seasons for Colombo. In 2004 and 2005, Colombo gained Div. 1 Super Bowls and completed first in Dan Ventura’s Sweet 16. This fall, the Boxers have an opportunity to complete 9-2. The final time Brockton gained that many in a season was in 2012, when the Boxers misplaced to St. John’s Prep within the Div. 1 Super Bowl. Colombo’s file is 141-80-1 heading into Wednesday night time.
Colombo has had many nice gamers through the years, and was requested to select a potential MVP of the Peter Colombo period.
“I’m partial to (quarterback) Jessy (Resende, who led the two Super Bowl teams). You know, 2-for-2 (titles), 24-2 (record),” Colombo mentioned. “I was doing the math back in those days and I was thinking I’m going to win 300 games, lose 10. Reality sets in. I would put Jessy there, the Thellen brothers (defensive backs Nate and Darren), (offensive lineman) Aaron Monteiro, who’s playing pro ball now. So many players. You’re not a good coach if you don’t have good players. Jessy used to make me look good and, I’d say, ‘I taught him that. That’s the way I designed it.’ You know it’s the creativity of the athlete that makes you a great coach.”
Of course, there are nonetheless the calls that he needs he may have again.
“That game at Gillette (the 2008 Super Bowl against BC High), I should have run Khalil (James-Offley) behind Henry (Thevenin on a fourth-down call late in the game),” Colombo mentioned. “I went around the end. Kind of haunts me a little. But you can’t do that to yourself.”
One of Colombo’s best strengths has been the chemistry he fostered along with his assistants. Longtime assistant Bobby O’Neill thinks so.
“No. 1, he doesn’t micromanage,” O’Neill mentioned of Colombo. “Once he makes a decision that you know what you’re doing, he lets you do your job. He’ll check in, but he won’t tell you what to do or how to do it. But he will oversee. So he lets you work, which gives you a lot of confidence as a coach. He’s also very flexible. He’s got a flexible mind. He’s open to a lot of ideas. It doesn’t always have to be his way. So he’s very inclusive that way.”
Colombo doesn’t rule out a return in some capability, perhaps as a place coach someplace. But as of Wednesday night time, he’ll let another person take over.
“I’ll miss my interaction with my coaches and players,” Colombo mentioned. “Just getting to know kids, getting to see them grow.”
A couple of minutes later, Colombo was again teaching his offense.
“You know, that’s got to be faster.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com