Gilford-Belmont goes with Marzahl

By rbrown
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Updated: April 2, 2016

When Shawn Garrett resigned as Gilford High School’s football coach following the 2015 season it left the school looking for its fifth head coach in the last six seasons. Josh Marzahl said he expects to bring some stability to the program.

Marzahl, a teacher at Gilford Middle School, was hired as Gilford-Belmont’s head coach last week. He spent the last two seasons as the program’s junior varsity coach.

Football “I’m in the (school) system, and I’m not going anywhere,” Marzahl said. “I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity.”

Gilford competed in Division III last season, but since it’s now a co-0p program with Belmont, Marzahl’s team will be in Division II this season. Although Marzahl has worked with the Belmont players at the junior varsity level, 2016 will be the first time Belmont players will be allowed on the varsity roster.

Marzahl, 25, said he expects as many as 20 Belmont students to be in the program this year.

“I think the merger with Belmont was worth the move to Division II,” Marzahl said. “It sets us up for more success. We have a better chance to win with Belmont in Division II than we would as just Gilford in Division III.”

Marzahl played football at Niagara Wheatfield Senior High School in Sanborn, N.Y., and then attended Plymouth State University. He did not play football at Plymouth State.

Marzahl also coaches basketball and baseball at the sub-varsity level.

“The (football) team will have a strong nucleus,” Marzahl said. “There’s a lot of talent coming up, and a lot of potential in the program.”

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