Bartlett tabbed to lead English softball

The Lynn English High softball team is under new management.
Jack Bartlett, a 1977 English graduate who played both baseball and hockey, will take over for Alisa Fila, who stepped down in July after 23 years as the head coach.
Bartlett has a good deal of local coaching experience, including in both the Wyoma Little League softball and baseball programs, Babe Ruth softball and baseball, Lynn Youth Hockey, and East Lynn Pop Warner football. He has also coached AAU baseball, elite travel hockey teams and for several years the team that represented Lynn in the annualRay Gallant Memorial youth baseball tournament in Salem.
?I coached a long time in different sports when my kids were young,” Bartlett said. “By the time they got to high school, I was asked a few times to coach but I wanted to watch my kids in their sports.”
Bartlett’s oldest son, Jackie, played hockey at St. Mary’s, Buckingham Browne & Nichols school and Colby College, before graduating this year. His son Corey played hockey and football at St. Mary’s. His daughter Chelsey played hockey and softball at Lynn Classical, and was recruited to play softball at UMass Lowell, but her career there was hampered by injuries.
?After they were done, I felt as though I wanted to get back (into coaching) and this job came along,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett’s assistant is also well known locally for her athletic accomplishments. Donna Mills played softball at Lynn Tech and went on to play at UMass Lowell. But, she’s probably best known for the many years she played baseball. Mills competed at the national and international level in baseball and for the past two years, she has been an assistant baseball coach at Lynn Tech.
English High athletic director Gary Molea has known Bartlett for many years and is excited to have him take over the program.
?I think this is something he’s always wanted to do at this level,” Molea said. “We’ll have strong leadership with Jack and with Donna as his assistant. There’s plenty of softball knowledge there.”
Molea said Fila did a great job last year trying to get some experience for some of the younger players.
?She played five or six freshmen,” Molea said. “I think the foundation was set last year. We needed someone to pick up and work on the fundamentals with the kids.”
Bartlett will inherit a team that has struggled for many years.
?I’m just going to have to start from the basics on up,” Bartlett said. “I have to see what I’ve got.
With an abundance of young, returning players, Bartlett will have some talent at his disposal.
?Hopefully, they’ll buy into the program and we’ll be competitive from the start,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be a challenge.”
Bartlett, who works as a school monitor at Lynn Tech, thanked both Molea and principal Thomas Strangie for giving him the opportunity to coach.
?It will be good to get back into it,” Bartlett said.With the English softball job filled, the changing of the guard in Lynn softball is now complete. Last month, Classical hired former St. Mary?s High player Erica (Sonia) Richard to take over its softball team. Coach Chris Warren stepped down this summer after being named a vice principal at the school.