Dembowski steps down as Swampscott football coach

Swampscott head football coach Steve Dembowski is leaving the program after over 20 years, 15 of them as head coach, and three Super Bowl appearances to take over as head coach in Milton.
When the opportunity came up in Milton, the town where he lives, he said it was just perfect timing.
?I live almost an hour away (from Swampscott), and at this point in my kids? lives (Anna and Kate), it?s not in their best interest (for me) to give up that extra time,” Dembowski said.
?They said all the right things and I said all the right things,” he said of his talks with Milton. “They want to elevate their program. In the end, it was really all about the timing.”
Dembowski will take over the Milton High program this fall.
He said he will always look back on his time with the Big Blue fondly, but he always knew this time would come.
?I don?t know if there?s a better place to coach (than Swampscott), it?s a great sports town,” he said. “There?s a lot of great memories and great friendships that I?ll always have, and I?m grateful for all the experiences I?ve had there. But I knew one day I?d have to leave there, and the time has come.”
Dembowski won 114 games in Swampscott and his teams went to three Super Bowls, losing to North Attleboro, 44-40, in 2002 and 28-6 to Mansfield the next season.
Swampscott would finally get its Super Bowl title under Dembowski in 2007 when the Big Blue defeated Medfield, 22-6, at Gillette Stadium for its first title in 35 years.
Under Dembowski, the Big Blue pioneered a spread attack that relied just as much on the pass as it did the run. That offense now has become the norm for many teams in the Northeastern Conference.
This past season, Swampscott qualified for the Division 4 North playoffs and upset Watertown before losing to sectional champion Lynnfield in the semifinals.
Swampscott athletic director Jon Flanagan understood why Dembowski came to the decision to step away.
?(Steve) has a family commitment that at this point makes it very difficult to come up to Swampscott on a daily basis,” Flanagan said. “He commutes probably 15 hours a week and that time could be better spent with his family.”
Flanagan also acknowledged the impression that Dembowski has left on the Big Blue program as a player and a coach.
?You?d be hard pressed to find someone who has served longer. He?s been involved with the program for a long time,” Flanagan said. “Few people bleed the blue the way that (Steve) does. He wrestled with the idea and I?m sure it was a difficult decision to make. He has to do what?s best for his family and I support him a hundred percent.”
Flanagan said that the job will be posted as early as next week and that Dembowski will be actively involved in selecting the new head coach.
?He wants nothing but the best for Swampscott,” Flanagan said. “And he?s going to take an active part in the process. I?m confident that we will find someone who will serve the town well but Steve?s knowledge of the game, and his work ethic, and his leadership ability and the fact that he?s a great role model for young men means that he?s going to be tough to replace.”Mike Alongi can be reached [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @m_alongi.