By Roger Brown
MaxPreps.com
Roy Swanson has retired before, but this time he insists it's for good.
Swanson, 73, stepped down as Portsmouth High School's volleyball coach on Dec. 8 after eight years with the program. Portsmouth was 83-59 during Swanson's tenure, and won its only Class L championship in 2004.
"I would say (it was) tough emotionally because I'm pretty close to all the players, but it wasn't difficult in the fact that at my age, I am slowing down," Swanson said.
Swanson also stepped down after the 2001 season, but was coaxed out of retirement before the 2002 season began. The Clippers reached the Class L semifinals in 2002, lost to Nashua in the Class L championship game in 2003 and finished 19-0 en route to the Class L title in 2004.
Swanson's 2006 team finished 13-5 and reached the semifinals for the fourth time in five years. The Clippers also finished 13-5 in 2005.
Portsmouth had an 11-66 record in the five seasons prior to Swanson's arrival. Before coming to Portsmouth, Swanson coached volleyball at Oyster River and Exeter. He built Oyster River into a state power and guided the Bobcats to the Class I state championship in 1981 and 1983. He spent eight seasons with the Exeter program.
Portsmouth athletic director Rus Wilson called Swanson's resignation a huge disappointment.
"That was one program we didn't have to worry about," Wilson said. "The girls loved him and, obviously, his record speaks for itself. You won't find a finer gentleman or a finer coach anywhere."
Basketball: Pike's Future Uncertain
Exeter's Jon Pike, a 6-4 guard/forward, may be the best high school basketball player in the state, but even though he averaged 24.5 points per game last season Pike still has something to prove.
According to Exeter coach Jeff Holmes, Pike is still without a Division I scholarship.
"I've had a few coaches call me about him, but not many Division I coaches," Holmes said. "He's on the radar screen, but I think coaches want to evaluate him more. Right now college coaches might see him as a 'tweener. They're not sure if he has the ball-handling skills to play guard, or if he's physical enough to play forward.
"My advice to him is: Have a great year, and it will open up some doors."
Pike has been starting for the Blue Hawks since his sophomore season, when he averaged 18 points per game. The University of New Hampshire is among the schools that showed interest in Pike last season, but Holmes said Pike may end up spending a year at a prep school.
"He'll apply to (Phillips Exeter Academy)," Holmes said. "Academically he can get in and he could live at home.
"He can definitely score, and I expect him to be more of a force on the glass this year. I think he's a scholarship-level talent."
Soccer: Pinkham Receives Coaching Honor
Gilford boys soccer coach Dave Pinkham has been selected as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America New England Coach of the Year.
Gilford finished with a 19-1 record last season and recorded 12 shutouts. The team's only loss came against Hopkinton in the Class M championship game. The Golden Eagles outscored their opponents 101-11.
Pinkham has a 471-39-21 record in 30 seasons as Gilford's head coach. His teams have reached the championship game in their league 21 times and have won 13 state titles.
Pinkham's 1999 team holds the National Federation of High Schools record for goals allowed in a season (one), and he steered Gilford to a 133-game unbeaten streak (129-0-4) from 1990 to 1997.
Pinkham is now eligible for the NSCAA National Coach of the Year award.