Coleman takes Peabody hoop helm

The Peabody High boys basketball team will have a new, yet familiar, face on the bench this winter.Domenic Coleman, who has served as a varsity assistant in the program for nine years, is the new head coach. He replaces Chris Mastrangelo, who stepped down earlier this year because of work and family commitments. Mastrangelo is a dean of students at the high school this year.Coleman was one of three finalists for the job. The Peabody High health and physical education teacher lives in Peabody, but grew up in Salem, where he played high school basketball. He also played a year at North Shore Community College under coach Jim Kefalas. He, his wife Nancy, and daughter Rachel live in Peabody.”I’m very excited,” Coleman said. “The adrenalin is flowing through me. I was hoping today would be the first day of practice.”Although last year’s team didn’t qualify for the state tournament, Coleman said he’ll have a good senior nucleus returning. With support from the underclassmen, he’s optimistic the Tanners will do well.”There’s always talent in Peabody,” he said. “One of the goals is to keep kids coming to Peabody High School.”Coleman said one of the things that has defined Peabody basketball over the years is good defense, and he’s hoping to continue that tradition. He said he was with Mastrangelo during the Tanners’ seven-year stretch of reaching the tournament, and defense was the catalyst all those years. The team won the Greater Boston League in 2002.Coleman’s coaching career actually began in Swampscott under former Big Blue coach Brian Bagley. Coleman coached the junior varsity back then.”He gave me the opportunity. He gave me a great foundation and showed me what high school basketball coaching is all about,” Coleman said.Coleman also thanked Mastrangelo for giving him the opportunity to coach, and he thanked Peabody High athletic director Phil Sheridan, principal Ed Sapienza and assistant principal Eric Buckley for providing him with this new challenge.Sheridan said all three candidates for the job were very qualified and it was a difficult decision.”This one was real tough. There isn’t a person who applied who we (the committee) interviewed who we wouldn’t like our kids playing for,” he said. “I have great respect for the guys who didn’t get the job. I’m happy for Dom.”The other two candidates reportedly were former St. Mary’s High player Thad Broughton of Peabody and John Dullea. All three are teachers in the Peabody schools. Coleman has also served as the freshman baseball coach, and he’s an active intramural instructor.