Carroll tabbed as new English football coach

LYNN ? The Lynn English football team has a new head coach with a name that should be familiar to Bulldogs fans.
Chris Carroll, the Item’s Player of the Year in 2005 for his excellence as a quarterback and safety, will replace Peter Holey, who had resigned in December because of job commitments.
?It is very exciting to have the chance to come back and coach at English,” Carroll said. “I want to thank (English principal) Tom Strangie and Gary (Molea, English athletic director) for having the confidence in selecting me. I can’t wait to get started.”
After graduating from English in 2006, Carroll went on to play four seasons at Bentley University, graduating in 2010. He was a graduate assistant on the Falcons? coaching staff when his playing career was over.
Carroll, who was one of three candidates to apply, impressed Strangie in the interview process
?Chris was a big leader when he was at English and had a successful career at Bentley,” Strangie said. “He is a great fit for the school. I couldn’t have made a better choice.”
After graduating from Bentley, Carroll worked for a company in Boston until this past July when he became assistant controller at Mark Richey Woodworking and Design in Newburyport.
It was this new job that Carroll said gave him the chance to pursue a dream that he’s had since graduating from English.
?I thought that it was great timing for me and where I am in my life. It took about two seconds to think about how to make this happen,” Carroll said. “And work couldn’t have been any more accommodating for all the time that it’s going to take being a head coach.”
One of the things that Carroll stressed will be important in his program is academics first, a philosophy he followed from the first time he entered English all the way through college.
?What I’m excited about is bringing the knowledge I gained at English and Bentley back to the program,” Carroll said. “We are going to try and instill the importance of academics and keep up the momentum that the program has gained. I’m going to focus on those two things.”
Molea was pleased to add someone with Carroll?s credentials to his coaching staff.
?I’m excited and I’m excited for him,” Molea said. “He bleeds red and gray. He’s an alumni and he played college football. It’s exciting on one side but on the other, he’s got to learn the staff and the kids. Hopefully, everything will fall into place from there.”
Red and gray has been in the Carroll family for many decades. Carroll’s father, Steve, is an English grad and was an assistant football, baseball and basketball coach for the Bulldogs.
Father and son spent four seasons together when Molea was head coach and Steve Carroll was an assistant.?My family is on board and they are very excited,” Carroll said. “I always knew that I wanted to get back to English and be a coach. I just didn’t think it would happen this soon.”