Flaherty Resigns as Coach of Saugus Football Team

Saugus High football Coach Dick Flaherty resigned from his position this week because of “personal reasons,” according to his wife Colleen.

Flaherty, whose team finished 2-8 last season, his fourth at the school, told Principal Mike Allmandinger that he would not return as coach but will stay at Saugus to teach physical education.

Flaherty finished with a four-year mark of 11-28-1. The Centurions did not finish higher than fifth in Golden League play during Flaherty’s tenure.

“He told me right after the season that he might not come back next year,” Allmandinger said. “But I told him to think about it over the break and he decided to step down. He’s got children reaching adolescence now and coaching does get in the way of parenthood.”

Flaherty, 44, has a daughter, Megan, at Hart High and a son, Colin, in elementary school.

Allmandinger said the coaching position is open to all applicants and that Saugus intends to name a replacement by the spring.

Flaherty, a collegiate baseball umpire and high school basketball official, was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Staff writer Steve Elling contributed to this story.