John Callahan guided the Mount Anthony Union High School football team to a winning record in each of the last two seasons, but it appears there’s no chance he’ll do that again this fall.
Callahan recently resigned to become the football coach and athletic director at Trinity Christian School in Dublin, Ga.
"John came in here and did an outstanding job to turn this program around,” MAU athletic director Tim Brown told The Rutland Herald. “He brought years of experience, vast football knowledge and a calming factor with players and coaches, which in turn equated to instant credibility for our football program.
"Obviously, I am disappointed that John will not be returning to carry on the job he started. But this is a great opportunity for him to be closer to family and land a school administrative job that offers him more stability in these tough economic times."
MAU finished 5-4 in 2007 and 2008. Before taking over at MAU, Callahan spent three seasons as the head coach at Mount St. Joseph Academy in Rutland. He guided MSJ to a victory over Hartford in the 2005 Division I championship game.
"I hated leaving those kids because they're good kids and I think they'll have a good year," Callahan said. “If I made the program better then that's good. It got them where they need to be now and someone can come and take advantage of the situation. I like it to be better when I leave than when I took over."
Callahan’s replacement will be MAU’s fifth football coach in the last 14 years.
Baseball: Lamothe stymies Mount Abraham
Right-handed pitcher Buddy Lamothe struck out 16 batters to help Lyndon Institute complete an unbeaten season with a 9-0 triumph over Mount Abraham in Monday’s Division II championship game at Burlington’s Centennial Field.
Lamothe held the top-seeded Eagles (16-4) to two hits. Mount Abraham beat Lyndon Institute in last year’s championship game, but lost all but three starters from that team.
Second-seeded Lyndon Institute completed its season with an 18-0 record.
Division I: Pat Riley pitched a complete game and struck out eight to help seventh-seeded Hartford beat fourth-seeded Mount Anthony 3-1 in the Division I championship game.
Hartford, which lost to Mount Anthony twice during the regular season, broke a 1-1 tie by scoring twice in the fourth. A Jake Rhodes single scored Logan Scelza to make it 2-1, and a throwing error also allowed Mike Avery to score on the play.
It was Hartford’s first baseball championship since 1973. Both teams finished 15-5.
Division III: Second-seeded Leland & Gray scored a run in the seventh to beat eighth-seeded Northfield, 2-1, in the Division III championship game.
Cody Larson doubled in the seventh and scored from second on a fielder’s choice. The victory gave Leland & Gray (18-2) back-to-back state championships.
