Page 14 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, September 13, 2019 Culture changes in store under new coach By Greg Phipps H aving played under three head coaches over the previous three seasons, the Saugus High School football team will be guided by firstyear head man Steve Cummings in 2019. Despite a preseason coaching controversy that kicked off last season, the Sachems showed fortitude in finishing with a 4-7 overall record and pulling off an upset win in the first round of the Div. 5 North playoffs. That provides beneficial material to build on for this fall, and Cummings is looking to create a more positive and stable atmosphere around the program. “One of the big things we’re focused on is making sure that everything we do is positive,” he told the press during the preseason. “I want people to understand that what we’re doing is probably different than what they’ve done in the past. We’re trying to change the culture here.” Saugus opens the regular season with two road games: Friday at Bedford (scheduled 4 p.m. kickoff) and then Winthrop on Sept. 20. They host perennial powerhouse Marblehead at Stackpole Field on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 11 a.m. So the early-season schedule is not a cakewalk to say the least, though the first two contests seem winnable on the surface, as both Bedford and Winthrop endured losing seasons last year. Cummings hopes some of the changes he’s instilling will help the team meet the challenges that lie ahead. “We’re trying to foster a culture of excellence through attitudes and the way we attack things,” he explained. “We’ll expect them to do things on a daily basis. I think it’s going to be a change from what they were part of in the past. It’s a work in progress.” Currently working as a teacher at Wakefield High School, Cummings brings with him a new assistant staff. In 2018, Mike Mabee took over as interim head coach after Anthony Nalen was suspended and eventually terminated from the position. In spite of the off-field drama, the Sachems competed well by nearly upending powerhouse Lynn English during the regular season and scoring a threetouchdown win over favored Weston in the Div. 5 North tournament’s opening round. Setting clear goals and objectives, such as forging a strong and communicative relationship with Saugus youth football, will be a key for Cummings and his team this fall. “In order to have a successful program there needs to be goals that people are setting,” he said. “Not just for the players but also coaches on your staff. One of the big things I’ve been doing is kind of building a solid relationship with the Pop Warner program, making sure they understand that their players are going to be ours someday. I want to make sure they know who I am. I want to make sure they know who my coaches are. We’re going to be around their practices. We’re going to be trying to implement and filter down whatever it is that we are teaching, so they will be ready when they get to high school.” Among the key players returning from last year are running back/linebacker Marvens Jean, wide receiver and safety Christian Correia, receiver/linebacker Bruno Auzec, safety Jaryd Coffill and cornerback Javier Martinez.
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