New Hampshire Football Report

Hebert will coach Spaulding

Kevin Hebert will be busier than usual next fall. In addition to serving as Spaulding High School’s athletic director, he will also be the school’s varsity football coach.

Hebert, 41, was approved by the Rochester school board last Thursday. He was hired as the school’s athletic director in 2010, and spent five years as an assistant football coach with the Red Raiders, but was not allowed to coach and serve as athletic director after the 2015 season.

“It’s exciting to get back into something I love doing,” Hebert said. “I really need to thank Spaulding principal Justin Roy, who was my biggest supporter. He got behind me and felt it was the best thing for the school.”

Hebert , a Dover resident, will replace John Shea, whose was the head coach at Spaulding for two years. Shea’s contract was not renewed after the 2017 season.

Spaulding posted a 1-8 record in Division I last season. The victory, which came against Manchester Memorial, ended the program’ 28-game losing streak.

Spaulding did not field a freshman or junior varsity team in 2016 or 2017.

“I’m hopeful to get kids back into Spaulding football,” Hebert said. “That’s the first task, and the next task is to get it back where where it needs to be competitively. It has a rich tradition.”

Hebert is Spauding’s ninth head coach since  coach Hugo Bolin resigned after the 1997 season. Bolin coached Spaulding to five state titles in 34 years, and aso served as the school’s athletic director. Spaulding’s last state championship came in 1990 and the school’s last playoff victory came in 1993.

Before becoming Spaulding’s athletic director, Hebert was the head coach at Somersworth — his alma mater — for 10 years.

“We’ll need to get that ‘tweener — the kids who aren’t necessarily football players per se, but kids who can play, but haven’t because of work or girlfriend or whatever,” Hebert said. “The way you do that is winning.”

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