Larry McElreavy, who led the Newport High football team to two consecutive NHIAA Division III championship games, the latter resulting in a D-III title with a perfect 11-0 record, resigned from his post on Tuesday. Newport athletic director Jeff Miller confirmed the news and said a search for McElreavy’s replacement will begin immediately.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better coach over the past two years,” said Miller, who also noted McElreavy’s decision was due to the coach’s recent job change. “We had as good a season (last year) as any over the past 20 years. I hate to use the word perfect season, but everything from a performance standpoint on the field, to the way the athletes behaved, to the way they handled academics. It was clearly a reflection of the entire coaching staff.”
McElreavy, who met with his team on Tuesday to announce the news, leaves the program with a 20-2 record over the past two seasons, outscoring opponents 853-217. In many ways, Miller said, McElreavy has helped put Newport football back on the map, and Miller expects that whoever takes over will continue that high standard.
McElreavy could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
“The search starts now,” Miller said. “I definitely want to have someone in place by mid- to the end of May. That way, the kids know. If there are summer camps to go to, we’ll have someone in place.”
Miller said he will organize a committee of parents, teachers and players to help make a decision and fully expects to review a wide range of candidates, both from within the program as well as externally. A major factor to consider will be the fate of Newport’s assistant coaches, including longtime offensive and defensive line coach Bill Thurlow, defensive coordinator Tom Fowler and former Springfield (Vt.) High head coach Kevin Tallman, all of whom Miller said he’d like to keep around.
“The job people have always been interested in is Newport football,” he said. “I’ll spend some time filtering people out. Obviously, we might have someone coming in from Ohio or Pennsylvania who might want a teaching position. We don’t have one open for them. This is strictly a stipend position.”
Expectations for next season’s group will certainly be high given what McElreavy leaves behind. Starting quarterback Dylan McNamara remains under center for the Tigers, and Newport’s offensive and defensive lines remain largely intact, though without captain Christian Lawrence. Most of Newport’s defense will also return, but the new coach will have to re-examine the Tigers’ offense, with Noah Wade and C.J. Lawrence graduating at the end of this year.
“We could be successful for the next several years,” Miller said.
With much of Newport’s pieces still in place, Miller said he expects next year’s group to once again compete for a state championship. He also admitted that an internal choice, perhaps an assistant coach or someone that is already familiar with the team, may have a leg up on an external candidate.
“Mr. Thurlow is always on a year-by-year basis,” Miller said. “It’d be tough if a new coach came in here and said to me, ‘I want an all-new coaching staff.’ Bill has got the right of first refusal to come back. There’d probably be a mutiny if it was any other way. We have a darn good staff.”
McElreavy, who was born in Claremont, played for the University of New Hampshire before coaching at the University of New Haven and Columbia University before returning to New Hampshire to coach high school football.
“This was his decision,” Miller said. “I was really hoping he’d walk in today and change his mind.”
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or at 603-727-3306.