After spending three seasons at Boston English High, Chris Boswell will not return for a fourth as head football coach. (Pavel Dzemianok / For the Boston Globe)

By Justin A. Rice, Globe Correspondent

Boston English High is searching for just its third head football coach in 38 years after Chris Boswell was released from the position last month.

Former Natick High coach Tom Lamb, an assistant at English the past few seasons, is leading the search. Lamb, a member of the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame, said he is trying to keep the players in the weight room and in study hall until a new coach is hired.

“I’m hoping to stay a part of the program,” Lamb said during a telephone interview Thursday afternoon. “I’m trying to be that consistent piece right now to hold them into football, keep them involved. … I wish I was younger because I have the spirit but I’m in a situation where I enjoy helping a lot but we’re looking for a younger coach for the future.

“Bos did a nice job and the kids loved him. We made some progress but it didn’t work out.”

Boswell, who went 4-27 over three seasons after replacing the retired Keith Parker, said he was released from his duties Dec. 17.

“It is what it is, I’m not vengeful or upset,” Boswell said. “It was a great opportunity and a lot of fun. I wanted to stay.”

English finished this past season 3-7 after a 44-15 loss to rival Boston Latin on
Thanksgiving Day at Harvard Stadium.

The program seemed to be on the mend earlier in the year. There was a 14-6 victory over New Mission, a first-year program. The following week, English shut out South Boston, 14-0, followed by a spirited 22-14 overtime loss to O’Bryant. English bounced back to beat Charlestown, 38-8, before losing, 6-0, to Madison Park — a team that lost in the Super Bowl.

Boswell, who has taught physical education the last four years at the Edison K-8 School, was a longtime assistant coach at Thayer Academy before taking his first head coaching job at English. He said he might land an assistant job in the fall or take a season off from coaching.

Lamb said anyone interested in applying for the Boston English job should e-mail a cover letter and resume to Lamb621@yahoo.com and to the school’s athletic coordinator, Barry Robinson, at blr263@gmail.com.

“We made a small step [last season] and we’ll see if we can make another major step,” Lamb said. “So we’re trying not to be too specific. We’re looking for a real good coach to take us to the next level. You don’t want to get too specific in details because good coaches come from all kinds of backgrounds.”

Robinson said he's looking for a coach who can improve the program's lackluster headcount over the last few seasons.

"I would like to see whoever comes in, to be honest with you, show me 30 to 40 boys," Robinson said. "Can it happen? Sure, it can happen but it's going to take a tremendous amount of work. We need someone who is energetic and can beat the bush, roll up their sleeves and recruit within the building.

"We have to have someone who can build the program, someone who is innovative and just willing to get down in the trenches and build a program. It doesn't matter if they have city experience, suburban experience, or country experience. A football coach is a football coach."

Justin A. Rice covers Boston Public school athletics. He can be reached at jrice.globe@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeJustinRice or @BPSspts.