On April 10, Ron Dowd won the Boston Globe’s Division 1 Coach of the Year. Dowd is the Athletic Director at Walpole High School, and he coaches boys’ hockey. Dowd was named Coach of the Year along with one other Division 1 coach and two other coaches from Divisions 2 and 3. Dowd began his position as Athletic Director in 2015, and he has been coaching boys’ hockey since 2012.
Dowd supported the team in their journey to the State Championship this year. Their season lasts throughout the winter, with the championship game normally being in early March. This past season was Dowds’ eighth year coaching WHS boys’ hockey.
“During the playoffs, [Dowd] never doubted us, he knew that we could beat anyone if we put our mind to it,” senior captain Liam Fisher said.
The team received the State Championship trophy as the official co-champions with Belmont. The championship game was unable to be played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The MIAA ultimately decided the game would jeopardize the players’ safety and health, therefore allowing the two teams to be awarded the title. The team had an unexpected rise throughout the tournament. Despite not being able to play the game, the team made WHS history after winning the State Championship for the first time since the 1960s.
“We put everything on the line in those last seven games. We played for each other as brothers, and that heart is what brought us to the State Championship game,” senior Thomas Fruci said.
Although he won Coach of the Year, Dowd credits the team for his award. Coach of the Year is awarded by the Boston Globe every year for each sport. This is the first award Dowd has won in terms of coaching hockey at WHS.
“[Coach of the Year] is a team award, so I was happy for all who had a part in the season,” Dowd said.
As the Athletic Director, Dowd oversees all sports and sport schedules at WHS; however, the schedule for spring sports is in question due to the current COVID-19 health crisis. Dowd plans to prioritize safety and is currently waiting for further direction from the MIAA if WHS students return to school. Dowd notes how currently he is keeping positive thoughts as a coach and is planning to salvage part of the spring season.
The players on the boys’ hockey team are grateful for Dowd. He was able to motivate the players, especially during the playoff games on their journey to the championship. The team was expected to have a tough playoff season; however, with the help of Dowd, they persevered to make it to the State Championship.
“Coach knows how to get the best effort out of his players and constantly motivates us to give it everything we have,” Kevin McElaney said. “He provides us with an example of how to act on the ice and when the final buzzer sounds.”