The Seekonk Star has learned that Jack Whalen, assistant coach at Seekonk High School the last five years, has been promoted to the head coach of the Warriors' varsity football team. Whalen takes over for Dave Morgado, who left Seekonk for the head job at Durfee six weeks ago.

Whalen confirmed the news during a phone conversation Tuesday evening, March 25.

"It's great to get the job," said Whalen, 52 and a Dighton resident.

Whalen was among five candidates interviewed by the Seekonk administration over the last few weeks.

"I'm relieved to finally know," Whalen added. "Once you go through the (interview) process, you're looking for an immediate answer, which obviously never happens. It's the waiting that's the hardest part, but it's great to finally know that I have the job."

Whalen has never been a head coach at the varsity level in high school, though Whalen has held the position at other levels, including two years as the head of the SHS freshmen team when the Warriors went 20-1 during the span. He has been coaching football at some level, full-time or on a volunteer basis, since 1979.

"Dave and 'Fitzy' did some great things here at Seekonk. I just want to keep things going in that direction," Whalen said of Morgado and former SHS assistant Bob Fitzgerald, who also left for Durfee.

Whalen remained at Seekonk following Morgado's departure in mid-February, overseeing the Warriors' off-season weight training and conditioning program while the search began for a successor. He initially said he was hesitant to take over the head coaching job, though once he received commitments from prospective assists to form a staff, he decided to formally apply.

"I told the kids at about two o'clock in the weightroom and the reaction I got made me feel really, really good," said Whalen. "They're great kids. I'm looking forward to coaching them."

Of his assistants, Whalen added: "I'm already in the process of putting the staff together. I already got a commitment from one of the guys I asked. He said he was excited about coming."

The staff must meet the final approval of the SHS administration, though Whalen is confident he'll be able to hire whom he sees fit.

"I always thought this was a good opportunity," Whalen said of Warriors' football, in general. "I thought Seekonk had the potential to be much better than it was, say, in the mid-1990s. Dave and our staff were able to rebuild the program. I'm just happy to have the opportunity to keep it going."

By Mike Rego

mrego@eastbaynewspapers.com

For complete coverage of the SHS football head coaching position purchase a copy of the March 28 edition of the Seekonk Star.