New Norwood Grid Boss No Stranger-July 9, 1971

On July 09, 1971, the Patriot Ledger detailed the background of the 37-year-old Doherty, a Boston College alumnus who has spent the last five seasons as the head grid coach at Shelton (Conn.) High School. For Doherty, a native of Jamaica Plain, the move represents a return to familiar territory; his wife, Ann, hails from Dorchester, and the couple maintains significant family ties within the Greater Boston area.

Doherty’s familiarity with Norwood dates back to his own playing days. A Cathedral High School graduate, he competed against Norwood teams during his youth and holds clear memories of the rivalry. “I’ve even played against Norwood,” Doherty stated from his home in Bridgeport, Conn., “and against Andy Scafati-coached teams.” Scafati, who currently serves as Norwood’s athletic director, was a close friend of Doherty’s high school coach, Jack McCarthy. This connection provided the new coach with early exposure to the quality of Norwood’s athletic programs. Regarding the Bay State League, Doherty expressed a high level of respect, noting, “It’s a fine league. I’m led to believe hockey is quite strong there, but football is good, too.”

The new coach arrives with an extensive pedagogical and athletic resume. After his graduation from B.C. in 1956 and a two-year stint in the Army, Doherty served at Fairfield Preparatory School, Millis High School, Beverly High School, and Catholic Memorial before his successful tenure at Shelton High. At Shelton, he is credited with revitalizing a struggling program, turning around a 1-9 start to achieve increasingly successful seasons. As he prepares to replace Art Gulla at Norwood High, Doherty outlined his tactical philosophy, expressing a preference for a “wide-open offense” if the personnel allows, while emphasizing the importance of preparing student-athletes for the college level. He believes that high school programs should adapt in lockstep with advancements seen in collegiate and professional football.

The transition to Norwood marks a “hectic” time for Doherty and his family, which includes children Christine (9), John Jr. (8), Kevin (7), and Gary (4). Between finalizing his contract, submitting his resignation in Shelton, and managing the sale of his home, he is anxious to relocate and begin his work. “The first few weeks will be very important,” he said. “Kids are impressed with personalities, as are grownups, and I hope I’m able to get my points across rather early.”

Archival Note: This article has been dynamically reconstructed from the original public record print archives of the Patriot Ledger