THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, FEbrUAry 28, 2025 Page 11 Joe Lowe takes personal leave Saugus girls basketball coach S By Dom Nicastro AUGUS — Joe Lowe is no longer coaching the Saugus High School girls varsity basketball team. The Saugus Advocate obtained details of a memorandum sent by a school offi cial to team parents that said, “You’re receiving this email because our girls basketball coach Joe Lowe is taking a personal leave as of February 11, 2025.” The note went on to say the school did not know how long Lowe would be out but asked parents to respect Lowe’s privacy at this time. Saugus played Peabody on Feb. 11, Dracut on Feb. 13 and then finished its regular season Feb. 17 against Chelmsford, meaning Lowe missed the fi nal three games of the regular season. Saugus fell to Peabody and beat Dracut and Chelmsford, the latter win against a Division 1 team. The Sachems fi nished 13-7 and are headed to the Division 3 postseason. They earned the No. 25 seed in the 42-team tourney and host No. 40 Auburn (12-8) Tuesday night, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. Assistant coaches Norma Waggett and Taylor Bogdanski have taken over co-coaching duties in Lowe’s absence. Like Lowe, each played basketball for Saugus High School, with Waggett and Bogdanski also having college playing careers. Waggett confirmed the co-coaching role when she shared a report from the Chelmsford game, adding, “Chelmsford was huge. The girls have been playing unbelievable.” Asked about Lowe, Waggett referred questions to Saugus Athletics Director Matthew Serino, who was not immediately available when the Advocate reached out Feb. 21. Lowe was not available for commentary. Lowe, in his second year as varsity coach, led the team to a second straight Northeastern Conference championship. Since playing for Saugus from 2007 to 2010, Lowe never left basketball. Last winter, he took over in Saugus for 10-year coach Mark Schruender, whose team won an NEC title for the fi rst time in decades and averaged around 13-14 wins in the last six seasons. Saugus went 14-7 and were co-champions in the NEC Lynch Division the year before Lowe took over. In his first season as varsity head coach, Lowe led Saugus to a postseason victory after years of near-misses: a comSHS Head Coach Joe Lowe gives instructions to his team from courtside during the annual Andrew James Lawson Invitational Tournament at the TD Garden against Marblehead in January. (Advocate fi le photo) manding 58-12 victory over North High of Worcester in the Division 3 state tournament. Though their playoff run ended in the next round against a strong Dover-Sherborn team, the Sachems capped the year with a 14-8 record and an NEC Lynch championship. This year, Saugus fi nished 137, won another NEC title and qualifi ed for another postseason run to begin next week. Lowe this winter was in his 9-MONTH CD 4.255% Unlock Tomorrow’s Potential. There’s Every Bank, Then There’s *Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate of the date posted and is subject to change without notice. APY assumes the interest remains on deposit until maturity. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. Offer may be withdrawn at any time. A minimum of $500 is required to open a Certificate of Deposit and earn the advertised APY. Member FDIC | Member DIF APY* fi fth season overall as a head coach, having served in that role previously with the Winthrop girls. Between Winthrop and Saugus, Lowe picked up more than 70 wins. Lowe’s coached 14 years in total. Lowe played for Saugus from 2007 to 2010, serving as team captain in 2010. He played for coaches Titus Manderson, Mike Broderick and Paul Moran. After graduating, he coached middle school, freshman and JV for the Saugus boys’ program for eight years before becoming a head coach at Winthrop. He then joined Saugus girls for one year two winters ago as an assistant. “I was on the staff last year as an assistant and developed a great relationship with the players and coaches in the program,” Lowe said early in his fi rst season as Saugus head coach. “Being an alumnus and comfortable in the school made it an obvious fi t for me.”
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