Former English star Vaughan to coach at Pope John

Former Lynn English and Northeastern University standout Brian Vaughan has accepted the head football coaching position at Pope John High School in Everett.Vaughan, who was a running back for the 1990 Super Bowl Bulldogs team, was offered the job Tuesday, and – after giving it some thought – accepted.It is Vaughan’s first head coaching position. He has been an assistant since 2000, working all but one year at English. He spent 2007 on the Winthrop High staff.”It was actually a tough call,” said Vaughan, who had been the offensive coordinator for the English football team under head coach Peter Holey. “Those kids at English worked awfully hard, and it’s kind of late to be leaving.”But, he said, Holey couldn’t have been more supportive.”He’s unbelievable,” said Vaughan. “He knew I wanted to be a head coach ? and how passionate I am about coaching. He gave me all the blessings in the world.”He’s doing a terrific job over at English, and they’re going to be just fine. I feel they’ll be pretty good in the Northeastern Conference.”Vaughan, whose daughter, Brianna, plays girls basketball for the Bulldogs, will continue to assist Fred Hogan in that program.The job opened up just last month, Vaughan said, and, initially, he applied for it simply to get some experience going through the process.”I was happy just to get an interview,” he said. “I thought I did pretty well when I got interviewed, and then they called me back for a second one (Monday). They called (Tuesday) and offered me the job.”I’m excited and very pleased to get this opportunity,” he said. “This is a goal I’ve always had for myself, and I’m truly blessed to get this opportunity.”Vaughan won’t have much time to build a staff and put a program in place. Practice starts Aug. 24 for varsity football, leaving him just short of three weeks to get established.”I’m behind the eight-ball right now, but that’s the challenge I have to prepare myself for,” he said. “I’m going to put together a whole new staff. I’m flying around right now, but I should have it in place by the end of the week.”Former Lynn Classical standout Matt Laurino is expected to join Vaughan, as is ex-St. Mary’s assistant Rasi Chau.After graduating from English, Vaughan played four years at Northeastern under Swampscott native Barry Gallup.”I love Barry,” said Vaughan. “He’s the one who gave me the opportunity to play college football.”In his senior season, Vaughan set the school rushing record – a mark that Saugus’ L.J. McKanas, and then Tim Gale, eclipsed.”I had it for a while,” he said, “but I’m about three deep now. That’s OK. Records were made to be broken, right?”