ABINGTON – For the earlier half century, you probably can depend on a implausible meal on the Abington Ale Home and for head soccer coach Jim Kelliher to toe the sidelines at Abington Excessive College.
However finally, all good points come to an end.
On Sept. 8, the Inexperienced Wave’s dwelling opener, Jim Kelliher can be the primary head coach inside the historic previous of Massachusetts highschool soccer to mark 50 consecutive years on the helm of a program.
However it will moreover mark the beginning of the tip of an incredible interval, as a result of the Abington dwelling legend launched to his workforce on Friday that 2023 is perhaps his final season for the Inexperienced Wave.
“Teaching at my hometown, coming again to my hometown, being right here so long as I’ve has been an absolute dream. It actually has been, and I contribute that to my gamers first earlier than anything after which my coaches,” acknowledged Kelliher. “I’ll miss the preps for video games, practices, within the locker room after the sport with the camaraderie and it has been a fully wonderful journey.”
Coach Kelliher has been a part of the fabric of Abington Excessive College for over 60 years as he’s a graduate of the faculty and served as an assistant coach under Walter Paster sooner than taking on the Inexperienced Wave program inside the fall of 1974.
Kelliher sits fourth all-time inside the state with 305 wins, trailing the late, good Armond Colombo’s 316 wins for Brockton. Kelliher has 5 state titles, alongside along with his first championship in 2002 and the ultimate coming in 2019. In 2012, Kelliher ran the gauntlet as his workforce went undefeated (13-0) en path to his third Tremendous Bowl title. All of this at one lucky school, Abington.
1000’s of players have come via Kelliher’s program, and it’s highly effective to hunt out one one which talks regarding the excerpts on the sector. Kelliher’s impression off the sector can’t be measured and is what everyone lights as a lot as discuss when referencing ‘coach Kel.’
Ed Reilly has been on the sidelines with Kelliher since 2001 as an assistant nonetheless was moreover the tough-love head coach’s starting quarterback inside the late 1980’s along with being a water boy at age 8 dreaming to play for the icon.
Reilly was emotional when requested what impression Kelliher had on him and his family after over 40 years as a participant, father or mom, and coach. In actuality, Reilly’s dad was the first of 4 Reilly quarterbacks to take a seat down under coronary heart at Abington.
“He nonetheless has the identical power, extra power than I do, extra power than any of the coaches do. There have been some random instances the place he needed to miss observe for numerous causes and we will inform that we simply don’t have the identical power that he brings,” acknowledged Reilly about Kelliher in no way missing a beat. “One in every of his issues is being a gentleman and he’s the true definition of it and it’s the issues that he does off the sphere which I’ll bear in mind essentially the most.”
Kelliher didn’t miss lots inside the last 5 a very long time as he may very well be seen all yr spherical at his players’ basketball video video games, Nationwide Honor Society inductions, and he’s probably been to further weddings and funerals for his players’ households than anyone in town. At all times there to lend a caring, mild hand all through good cases and positively robust cases.
Kelliher has undoubtedly calmed down a sew with age, nonetheless his aura and laughter keep the equivalent as players as we communicate and yesteryear nonetheless love and respect him. Every Abington participant nonetheless will run via partitions to solely get a jersey and a helmet under his program inside the tiny South Shore metropolis.
When you think about Abington, you think about coach Kelliher, even from an outsider’s perspective. Coach Scott Pifer, who has been with the Inexperienced Wave for 11 years, wouldn’t change an element.
“He took me in like a father determine as I used to be in Quincy Excessive College earlier than this. Most of those guys got here from Abington, performed for him, and I initially am from Ohio, so it was necessary to me with a younger household to really feel welcomed,” acknowledged Pifer. “Coach did simply that and now my oldest son Matthew is a freshman and it’s nice that he will get to teach my oldest. (Kelliher) is Inexperienced Wave soccer, he’s an establishment, and GWP soccer is all him.”
Soccer is family to show Kelliher and in addition you don’t must look any further than coach Reilly himself. His son Eddie Jr., in his second yr of college at Clemson, carried out under coronary heart for coach Kelliher and now coach Reilly’s completely different son, Michael, will get to shine in his junior yr as a result of the fourth know-how starting quarterback this fall in Kelliher’s final season.
“I used to be all the time on the sidelines of each single sport, and I used to be additionally a waterboy for coach because it was all the time a dream of mine to play for him sometime. I might even go to the practices to aspire to be what coach has made me at present, and now that I’m, it’s sort of wonderful,” acknowledged Reilly.
“Trying ahead to the final 12 months enjoying for him and attempting to get him out on prime. I haven’t actually processed it, however I’m simply in awe. I imply 50 years and his final one goes to be with me? It’s going to encourage me much more.”
Desires look like the theme as coach Kelliher walks into the sunset and contributed to many players’ objectives alongside the best way during which. Possibly objectives do come true in Inexperienced Wave nation, and it’s all because of coach Kelliher made Abington his dream. Kelliher was humble and steadily pointed to his current and former educating staffs and players for all his success.