ABINGTON – For the previous half century, you possibly can rely on a fantastic meal on the Abington Ale House and for head soccer coach Jim Kelliher to toe the sidelines at Abington High School.
But ultimately, all nice issues come to an finish.
On Sept. 8, the Green Wave’s dwelling opener, Jim Kelliher would be the first head coach within the historical past of Massachusetts highschool soccer to mark 50 consecutive years on the helm of a program.
But it would additionally mark the start of the tip of a tremendous period, because the Abington dwelling legend introduced to his workforce on Friday that 2023 might be his ultimate season for the Green Wave.
“Coaching at my hometown, coming back to my hometown, being here as long as I have has been an absolute dream. It really has been, and I contribute that to my players first before anything else and then my coaches,” stated Kelliher. “I’ll miss the preps for games, practices, in the locker room after the game with the camaraderie and it has been an absolutely amazing ride.”
Coach Kelliher has been part of the material of Abington High School for over 60 years as he’s a graduate of the college and served as an assistant coach below Walter Paster earlier than taking up the Green Wave program within the fall of 1974.
Kelliher sits fourth all-time within the state with 305 wins, trailing the late, nice Armond Colombo’s 316 wins for Brockton. Kelliher has 5 state titles, along with his first championship in 2002 and the final coming in 2019. In 2012, Kelliher ran the gauntlet as his workforce went undefeated (13-0) en path to his third Super Bowl title. All of this at one fortunate college, Abington.
Thousands of gamers have come by means of Kelliher’s program, and it’s powerful to seek out one one that talks concerning the excerpts on the sector. Kelliher’s impression off the sector can’t be measured and is what everybody lights as much as speak about when referencing ‘coach Kel.’
Ed Reilly has been on the sidelines with Kelliher since 2001 as an assistant however was additionally the tough-love head coach’s beginning quarterback within the late 1980’s together with being a water boy at age 8 dreaming to play for the icon.
Reilly was emotional when requested what impression Kelliher had on him and his household after over 40 years as a participant, father or mother, and coach. In reality, Reilly’s dad was the primary of 4 Reilly quarterbacks to sit down below heart at Abington.
“He still has the same energy, more energy than I do, more energy than any of the coaches do. There have been some random times where he had to miss practice for various reasons and we can tell that we just don’t have the same energy that he brings,” stated Reilly about Kelliher by no means lacking a beat. “One of his things is being a gentleman and he is the true definition of it and it’s the things that he does off the field which I will remember the most.”
Kelliher didn’t miss a lot within the final 5 a long time as he could be seen all yr spherical at his gamers’ basketball video games, National Honor Society inductions, and he’s most likely been to extra weddings and funerals for his gamers’ households than anybody on the town. Always there to lend a caring, light hand throughout good instances and positively tough instances.
Kelliher has definitely calmed down a sew with age, however his aura and laughter stay the identical as gamers as we speak and yesteryear nonetheless love and respect him. Each Abington participant nonetheless will run by means of partitions to only get a jersey and a helmet below his program within the tiny South Shore city.
When you consider Abington, you consider coach Kelliher, even from an outsider’s perspective. Coach Scott Pifer, who has been with the Green Wave for 11 years, wouldn’t change a factor.
“He took me in like a father figure as I was in Quincy High School before this. Most of these guys came from Abington, played for him, and I originally am from Ohio, so it was important to me with a young family to feel welcomed,” stated Pifer. “Coach did just that and now my oldest son Matthew is a freshman and it’s great that he gets to coach my oldest. (Kelliher) is Green Wave football, he’s an institution, and GWP football is all him.”
Football is household to teach Kelliher and also you don’t have to look any additional than coach Reilly himself. His son Eddie Jr., in his second yr of school at Clemson, performed below heart for coach Kelliher and now coach Reilly’s different son, Michael, will get to shine in his junior yr because the fourth technology beginning quarterback this fall in Kelliher’s ultimate season.
“I was always on the sidelines of every single game, and I was also a waterboy for coach as it was always a dream of mine to play for him someday. I would even go to the practices to aspire to be what coach has made me today, and now that I am, it is kind of amazing,” stated Reilly.
“Looking forward to the last year playing for him and trying to get him out on top. I haven’t really processed it, but I’m just in awe. I mean 50 years and his last one is going to be with me? It’s going to motivate me even more.”
Dreams appear to be the theme as coach Kelliher walks into the sundown and contributed to many gamers’ goals alongside the way in which. Maybe goals do come true in Green Wave nation, and it’s all as a result of coach Kelliher made Abington his dream. Kelliher was humble and frequently pointed to his present and previous teaching staffs and gamers for all his success.
Source: www.bostonherald.com