Schools

Third UPDATE: School Hires New Spring Track Coach

New coach hired Friday after spring track coach Domenic Finelli officially resigned his position on Tuesday.

Swampscott Athletic Director Alison Argentieri released a statement this afternoon regarding the boys spring track program:

"We are pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Bush as Head Boys Track Coach.

"Through his positions as assistant football coach, assistant indoor track coach, and Physical Education teacher at Swampscott High School, he has established a strong connection with both the students and the Swampscott Community.

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"He is a capable and talented individual and will be a wonderful addition to the track program.

"We are proud that he has accepted the position."

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Superintendent Lynne Celli released this statement this morning in the wake of boys spring track coach Domenic Finelli's resignation.

"Layne, Alison and I made a decision Tuesday when Dom officially resigned that we were moving forward and not responding. To do so would continue the issue and hurt a program that is already trying to heal with the coaches that are here. This healing started Tuesday night at the Spring sports meeting."

The superintendent would not answer questions about why Domenic Finelli resigned. She directed these questions to Finelli.

Attempts to reach the coach have been unsuccessful.

School Committee Chairwoman Jacqueline Kinney said the committee was not involved in the matter and the members stand behind the high school principal.

"Layne Millington is the leader of the high school," she said this morning. "We hired him to run the school and it is his job to decide who gets hired and who does not get hired," the chairwoman said.

She said she has heard from an angry parent about the situation.

Kinney said any other question should be directed to the school principal.

Late last year, Finelli resigned as cross country coach.

That move prompted parents to crowd into a  meeting to rally behind the high school's cross-country program.

Finelli coached the team for nine years before  handing in his resignation.

Resident Nathan King said during the meeting's public comment period that Finelli received only 55 percent of what other coaches at the school receive for compensation, yet he coached both the boys and the girls cross country teams.

 Parent Paul Gorman, a longtime program supporter, said Swampscott has one of the largest cross country programs in the state if not the largest with 130 athletes, boys and girls.

Finelli gave team jerseys to all who wanted to be part of the team, an estimated 17 percent of the school's enrollment, he said. 

Parents had worked behind the scenes to smooth Finelli's return as coach.

Patch will report any additional information.


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