Taunton has hired former Franklin coach and current athletic director Brad Sidwell as its new football coach. Sidwell, who recently stepped down as football coach, will finish out the school year as Franklin AD.
Sidwell replaces Chris Greding at the helm of the Tigers, who posted a 1-10 overall record this past Fall. Sidwell spent 20 years as the head coach of the Panthers before stepping down this past December.
“This wasn’t something I was thinking about it initially but the more I talked with Taunton administrators, I became more intrigued and more impressed with everything about them,” Sidwell told HockomockSports.com “The more we talked, the more excititing it was for me to keep coaching and get to a new place. It seems like a really good match.”
Sidwell admitted he was preparing for life without being on sidelines until this opportunity came up.
“The first thing is to get in and meet the kids and make connections,” Sidwell said. “I want to talk and relay to them why football is so much fun and what life lessons you can learn from it. The administration and athletic department are very supportive. In terms in schemes and coaches, we have to figure that out, that will come. What’s more important is getting in there and meeting the kids and find out what motivates them and get them going.”
In his 20-plus years of coaching, Sidwell has compiled a record of 122-110-3 and most recently won the Hockomock League title in 2009.
“He brings a lot to table,” Taunton AD Mark Ottavianelli told HockomockSports.com. “His experience, his knowledge of the league, how he deals with student athletes, the faculty and the staff…he’s a great fit for our program.
“I’ve known Brad for a long time and I’ve watched his teams play. I’ve always been impressed with how he handles himself and how he has his teams ready to play. They are always competitive too.”
He also spent 15 years as the Franklin’s athletic director. Along with the head football coaching job at Taunton, Sidwell has also been hired as the new PK-12 Wellness Coordinator at Taunton High School.
“We are pleased to welcome Brad Sidwell and his family to our school community,” Taunton Superintendent of Schools Dr. Julie Hackett said in a press release. “He is an educator who strongly believes that athletics, physical education and wellness play a vital role in the academic excellence of students. His knowledge, experience and passion will improve the health and well-being of all children in the Taunton Public Schools.”
After graduating from Brown University as a two-sport athlete, Sidwell was an assistant football coach at Tulane University followed by two years at Providence Country Day. He became Franklin’s head coach in 1995.
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