Andover AD relishes task

Salem athletic director Chris Bergeron oversaw what undoubtedly had to be the most successful sports year in New Hampshire history: 2007-08 state championships in boys' and girls' volleyball, boys' basketball, field hockey, girls' gymnastics, and boys' tennis. He did it while also serving as district director of physical education and health and overseeing middle school athletic programs.

They were additional jobs he loved, but didn't necessarily want. First and foremost he was an athletic director. That's what he's always wanted to be. Nothing more, nothing less.

So, when Andover dangled that opportunity, Bergeron jumped, leaving one passionate athletic community for another.

"What really enticed me was the chance to be an athletic director and an athletic director only," said Bergeron, 36, who spent seven years at Salem and helped develop one of the top programs in the Granite State. "There were no other jobs involved, just the opportunity to work with coaches and athletes. There will be some administrative responsibilities, but my main focus will be high school athletics.

"The advantage is that I won't be being pulled in so many directions. It's what I love. I wasn't a physical education or health teacher, but that was part of the job at Salem and I had to learn the curriculum and build that into my day. My real realm is high school athletics. They've driven me throughout my career. It is my passion and I am very excited about this new job at Andover."

Bergeron will succeed Dave Nichols, who retired after 32 years in the system, and who shared the AD duties with Brian McNally since 2003. McNally now becomes the head of physical education and health. Bergeron, who played his high school sports in Exeter, graduated from the University of Richmond, and earned his master's degree in physical education at the University of New Hampshire. He served as interim AD in Portsmouth in 1995-96 and AD at Bishop Guertin from 1998 to 2001 before taking over in Salem.

"I'm going to a new place that has been very successful in the past," said Bergeron. "I want things to continue at the high level Andover expects. One of the first things I have been doing is meeting with the coaches. My relationship with the coaches and athletes is an integral part of keeping that success going. . . . Right now, I'm concentrating on the fall coaches. Then I'll meet with the winter and spring coaches.

"I'm looking forward to meeting the captains of each sport and having meaningful conferences with them."

Bergeron expects to be at his new desk by the middle of this month. Waiting to succeed him in Salem is Dave Rozumek, who has been offered the job and is awaiting School Committee approval. Rozumek played pro football with the Kansas City Chiefs and has been Bergeron's top assistant in the middle school athletic program.

Former Merrimack Valley Conference standouts Matt Lawlor of Dracut and Patrick Devlin and Vincent DePierro, both of Tewksbury, are among 19 players recruited to the University of Massachusetts at Lowell baseball team. Lawlor is a catcher, Devlin a third baseman, and DePierro a left-handed pitcher. Southpaw pitcher Todd Bartelson of Pepperell, a sophomore who played on the River Hawks' hockey team last season, has opted to play baseball. . . . Patrick Doak, 40, was the men's wheelchair winner in last weekend's TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Doak finished the 6.2-mile race in 23 minutes, 35 seconds. . . . Tim Rattigan of Reading fired a 2-under 66 to win the boys' 14-15 New England PGA Junior Tour stop at Lynnfield Center. Garrett Johnson of Lexington was the boys' 16-18 runner-up with a 70. . . . Northern Essex Community College, with campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, has named Alexander Hill of Amesbury its new baseball coach. He succeeds Kerry Quinlan, who resigned in June to accept a similar position at Bunker Hill Community College. . . . First-year Merrimack College football coach John Perry of Andover won't have much time to whip his charges into shape. He greets the team Friday and that gives him just 22 days before the season opener Sept. 6 against Husson.

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