Somerville closes in on naming Hannah football coach
By Bob Holmes, Globe Staff, 2/13/2004
The greatest player in Patriots history is on the verge of becoming a Highlander.
Somerville mayor Joe Curtatone was working out the final details last night of the deal for John Hannah to become the Somerville High School football coach.
Curtatone was meeting with the city's aldermen and planned to present an important part of the deal -- Hannah's spearheading the evaluation of the youth programs in the city.
"The mayor is interested in John Hannah because [Hannah] wants to take a broader role in the community," said Mark Horan, the mayor's spokesman.
If the arrangements are finalized, Hannah will take over a program that went 0-11 last fall competing in the Greater Boston League.
"We think it's a real coup for us," said Somerville athletic director Jerry Knight of the possibility of hiring Hannah. "I think it's a great benefit to the community. Everyone is behind him."
The announcement on Hannah's positions could come as early as today.
Hannah, 52, lives in Newburyport and has been an assistant at Governor Dummer the past three years, the last two as line coach. During that time, GDA went 23-3 and won two New England championships.
Hannah was born in Canton, Ga., and attended the University of Alabama, where he played for legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. He was drafted fourth overall by the Patriots in 1973. Following a 13-year NFL career that included playing in Super Bowl XX, Hannah was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991. Hannah is one of three Patriots in the Hall, along with Mike Haynes and Nick Buoniconti.
Knight said Hannah's presence would help beyond the football field. "We hope to get the parents and community more involved in the program and we think it will help keep students from leaving Somerville and going to a prep school," Knight said.
Hannah's football resume wasn't a question when the position was posted in December. "Our interview process was not to ask what you know about football. We didn't question that," said Knight. "We tried to ask questions to find out who John Hannah is as a person, and we found him really positive. He likes talking to the kids. The [five-person] committee was very impressed."
Attempts to reach Hannah were unsuccessful.
The committee interviewed six of the 21 applicants and narrowed it down to three candidates. Along with Hannah, the committee recommended Bob McIntosh, an assistant at Somerville, and Harry Marchetti, former head coach at Whittier. School principal Thomas Galligani and Somerville school superintendent Albert Argenziano interviewed the three, then selected Hannah. "Our goal is to be competitive with [three-time defending GBL champion] Everett," said Knight. "We've got some building blocks. Our goal is to win the Greater Boston League."
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