Indicted coach: Kids lost in shuffle

MEDFORD - The coach at the center of a criminal investigation said yesterday that no one is thinking about the kids.

"This could have been settled over the summer, before the football season, but the powers that be chose to take action during the middle of the season," said James Atkins, who was indicted Wednesday by a Suffolk County grand jury on charges that he misused approximately $10,000 in funds that belonged to the Chelsea Football Boosters Club.

"Nobody - nobody - at all thinks about the kids. I do, that's for sure. That's what everybody seems to be missing."

Atkins was suspended without pay Thursday by superintendent of schools Roy Belson.

Atkins met with the team Thursday. "It was difficult. Not just for me, but for the kids, too," he said.

"We talked about finishing, getting through the season, not letting outside influences disrupt what we've been building so far here. We've come such a long way."

Medford, led by interim coaches Mike Marchese and Jamie Delverde, lost to Newton South, 14-7, last night.

Choking up after the game, Marchese spoke of how well the players have handled the turbulence. "They took it for what it is. Medford kids are tough," he said.

Asked yesterday morning if he had ruled out the possibility of renewing Atkins's contract, athletic director Bob Maloney responded, "Absolutely not."

Parents, players, and administrators expressed frustrations last night.

"He was someone who my son respects so much, that he'd take him back in a minute," said Marianne McCourt, 53, whose son, DJ, is a starting defensive tackle. "My son didn't play Pop Warner, so [Atkins is] the only coach he's ever known."

Said Karen Fopiano, 49, whose son, Joey, is a linebacker: "It is two years lost."

Junior quarterback and cocaptain Mike Sullivan sees Atkins as not just a coach, but a mentor off the field, as well. "He's a nice guy, with a good personality," he said. "[He teaches us] to be good students, to stay out of trouble. Just hang out with my friends, don't do anything bad with the law."

Atkins had been placed on administrative leave by Medford before the 2007 season as a result of the investigation, but was cleared to coach this year.

Atkins, a Chelsea police sergeant placed on administrative leave when the investigation started, will be arraigned Oct. 22 in Suffolk Superior Court on five counts of larceny.