WEST CANAAN — Ever since Ryan Limero left Mascoma High for the first time, Stephen Stebbins was trying to get him to come back.
This year, Limero did — just in time for Stebbins to become his boss.
After coaching the Royals’ boys soccer team from 2015-17, Limero stepped away to become an assistant coach at Colby-Sawyer College. But he left that position when the pandemic began in 2020, then left Lightning Soccer Club as well and returned to Mascoma in time for this fall’s season.
“Ryan and I have been in contact since he left the first time around,” said Stebbins, who became the Royals’ athletic director in July. “Almost jokingly, a couple times a year, I would make some comment to him about coming back, hoping it was going to someday come true. When I contacted him this time, it did not feel like I was twisting an arm. He was ready.”
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Limero played Division III soccer at Elmira (N.Y.) College, graduating in 2014 with a degree in elementary education. He immediately moved to the Upper Valley upon graduation to begin teaching fourth grade at Enfield Village School and has remained there ever since, taking over the Royals a year later with no coaching experience.
Mascoma went 23-25-2 during Limero’s first three-year stint, which started with a dismal 3-13-0 campaign before back-to-back 10-6-1 seasons that each ended with a first-round playoff loss.
“I went off of my (college) experience because it was so fresh,” Limero said. “Now that I’ve had some more coaching experience, I have an idea of how to run things. I feel like I just have more confidence and ideas.”
Limero took the Colby-Sawyer job intending for it to be the first step in his college coaching career but quickly realized it was hard to balance with a full-time teaching position. When everything about college athletics suddenly became uncertain due to COVID-19, he figured it was time to devote his attention to teaching and coaching at the youth levels.
All the while, though, Limero always felt like he would end up back where his coaching journey began.
“I love this area, I love the district, I love the community,” Limero said. “The opportunity came up and I couldn’t say no, and I’m really happy I chose to. I knew eventually I’d want to come back; I just didn’t know when or how.”
Limero was hired by previous athletic director Rodney Brown, now at John Stark, but Stebbins, who became the junior varsity coach when Limero left for Colby-Sawyer, was on the interview committee. Keli Green, the JV head coach under Limero, was elevated to varsity, compiling a 37-24-1 record over the last four years and reaching the NHIAA Division III semifinals in 2019.
Senior defender Garrett Giovagnoli, a three-year varsity player, said not everyone took practices seriously under Green, but now he spends the whole school day looking forward to them.
“What really stands out is (Limero) knows how to maneuver the entire field to shift all the way up and all the way back,” Giovagnoli said.
“Starting from the back line through the midfield into our offensive line, it all works together. He’s been a great coach and a great person to go to whenever we need help with anything.”
Mascoma graduated its all-time leading scorer last year in Ben Seiler, whose 82 goals rank eighth in New Hampshire history. But the Royals haven’t missed a beat — after Thursday’s victory over Fall Mountain, they have won five straight and are 6-1-0, in position to earn a top-four playoff seed.
Senior Zach Thompson might not be quite as accomplished a scorer as Seiler, but he has found the back of the net 12 times through seven games, including a trio of hat tricks. Junior James Thomas and sophomore Tanner Moulton also give Mascoma plenty of offense, and sophomore goalkeeper Matt Favreau holds things down on the other end.
With a more experienced and self-assured Limero at the helm, the Royals have their sights on the first state final appearance in program history.
“We try and get the training sessions to focus on things that are going to help us (in) the game,” Limero said. “Overall, I try and pay attention more to details. Everyone is pretty bought in and wanting to help the team out.”
Benjamin Rosenberg can be reached at brosenberg@vnews.com or 603-727-3302.