New Hampshire Football Report

Epping/Newmarket selects Nalen

It landed a young head coach with plenty of experience. Nalen, who is 31, has served as the head coach at four Massachusetts high schools: Matignon, Bishop Connolly, Randolph and Saugus.
Nalen replaces Ben Bourgoin, who resigned earlier this year following one season as Epping/Newmarket’s head coach to become the school’s athletic director. When Bourgoin was hired in 2018 he became Epping/Newmarket’s fifth head coach in seven seasons.
Nalen, who lives in Malden, Mass., said the situation at Epping/Newmarket resembles the situation at Matignon when he became the head coach there.
“Probably Matignon was the closest in that regard,” he said. “They had low numbers and not a lot of success before I got there.
“I was just looking online at jobs in New Hampshire and for my family, this was a good fit. I hope to teach there next year. The hope is to move up here.”
Nalen, who was officially hired on May 16, grew up in Everett, Mass., and attended Pope John XXIII High School, where he played quarterback. He works as a elementary school teacher in Boston.

He said stability at the head coaching position is often a key for a program to have consistent success.

“Definitely,” he said. “It’s tough for kids to buy in when they’re hearing a different voice every couple years.”

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