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Joe Conlon has coached the Jets hockey team for nine years.
By STEVE KRAUSE
LYNN — Lynn Classical principal Gene Constantino confirmed Friday that Joe Conlon, who has coached the Lynn Jets hockey team that combines all three public high schools, has submitted his resignation.
While both Constantino and English principal Tom Strangie accepted that resignation, it was with extreme reluctance. So much so, says Constantino, that both of them are trying to get him to reconsider.
Conlon, an English graduate who just completed his ninth year as coach, is an expectant father. And, said Constantino, he is concerned about amount of time coaching takes, and whether it would take away from caring for the baby.
“Tom and I have approached him about reconsidering,” said Constantino. “He’s going to think about it for a couple of days. We’d like it if he wanted to take a year off and then come back, perhaps.”
English athletic director Dick Newton will be sorry to see Conlon go, if that’s what ends up happening.
“He’s done a great job over the years keeping the team competitive,” said Newton. “But he’s an all-in kind of a guy, and he feels if he can’t be all-in, he can’t do the job properly.”
This past season, the Jets finished the regular season at 11-6-1, easily qualifying for the Division 3 North tournament. The Jets defeated St. Joseph’s Prep in the first round before bowing out to Boston Latin Academy.