Saugus High graduate Matt Serino returns to Sachem Country as its new athletic director

Town’s native son promises to grow the individual sports programs with plenty of community involvement

By Joe McConnell

Matt Serino is back home where he enjoyed some of his biggest successes in sports. The two-time state high school hockey champion for the Saugus Sachems in 2003 and 2004 is the new athletic director on the Pearce Memorial Drive campus replacing Terry Pillsbury.

Just like his late father and legendary Saugus three-sport athlete and coach, Chris, Matt too is a Sachems Hall of Famer. He was inducted into the Hall in 2018.

The Serino family prominently spanned the generations in the Saugus community, and Matt being named the school’s top sports boss is its latest success story.

Remembering his Viking Days

Although Matt still resides in town with his wife Sabrina and three daughters – Kylie (8), Harper (5) and Brinley (3) – he had to go elsewhere to get his career started in athletic administration. But it wasn’t too far away. He spent the last 13 years at Winthrop High School as a health teacher and athletic director.

“I was very fortunate for my time in Winthrop, it’s a truly remarkable community with remarkable people,” said Serino. “John Macero, Gail Conlon, Matt Crombie and Lisa Howard gave me an opportunity, and also helped me grow professionally and as an individual, as well. I will be forever grateful for my time there, and the relationships that I have built over there.”

While as the Vikings top sports boss, his teams enjoyed many winning seasons. “Over the years, our teams had great success winning many NEC (Northeastern Conference) titles, making North final (Final Four) appearances and even had a national championship in cheerleading,” added Serino.

But now Matt is bringing all of his experiences as a longtime NEC athletic director back home to Saugus, and he loves it.

“Being a part of the Northeastern Conference is something I take great pride in,” he said. “It is a (conference) of tradition, and it’s also one of the most competitive public conferences in the state.

“I have been a part of the NEC for over 20 years, dating back to my time as an athlete at Saugus High School, and most recently as the Winthrop AD. It is always easier coming into a new role having had some familiarity with it. I already know the other athletic directors, and that will be a big help in making this transition a smooth one.”

The position of athletic director has changed considerably over the years, according to Serino.   “In most districts, the AD is also the head of their school’s wellness department, where they oversee the physical education and health teachers, while assisting with curriculum. At Saugus, I will be the Director of Athletics and Wellness,” Matt explained.

When Matt was a Saugus High student-athlete, there was no such thing as co-op programs. But all of that has changed. Matt, however, wants to get those specific sports currently sharing resources with other area schools to possibly be independent again.

“My goal is to help grow all of our programs,” he said. “In addition to hockey, we have a few sports that are also involved in co-ops. I would love to see all of these programs thriving on their own. With the help of the community, I plan to build excitement within our programs to help them grow in order to continue the storied tradition of Saugus athletics.”

It does help having a surname that everybody knows in town, but the Serino’s aren’t the only family with longstanding Saugus roots, and Matt knows that.

“Saugus is a town rich with athletic tradition,” he said. “There are many storied families, who have seen generations pass through the school system thriving in athletics. There are also new families building their roots here, who will be a part of the next generation of greats.”

And Matt will help guide them through the process. He will tell them about those Saugonians, who helped him along the way as a young athlete.

Influential Saugus coaching legends helped shape Matt’s life

“From an early age, I learned of tradition and loyalty to my community from coaching legends like Ed Nazzaro, John Perullo, Louis Finocchiaro and Jimmy Quinlan,” Matt said. “That pride and love for Saugus only grew. Growing up hearing stories of hockey greats like Jeff Paolini and Bobby Maccini, and then watching Jeff Natalucci, Eric Pedersen and Shawn Sullivan play, I wanted nothing more than to go to Saugus High and wear the Sachem jersey, while playing for my hometown with the same group of friends I had grown up with for 10 years.”

Matt went on to say what it will take to bring it all back. “It’s a community effort to keep our kids in Saugus, and I can share with anyone who’s willing to listen why I think Saugus is so special,” he said. “All the pieces are in place. We have beautiful facilities, great educators, school and town officials who are invested in the well-being of our students and a community that comes out to support their athletes, not to mention the opportunity to play a sport with your childhood friends in front of your hometown, which will create memories that will last a lifetime. It’s something you can’t put a price tag on.”

And Matt knows what he’s talking about. “I grew up here, and my wife and three of my brothers went to school here. I’ve made lifelong friends here, and now it has come full circle with my children being raised here, and going to school here,” said the new SHS AD. “Both of my parents were also raised here, and were athletes, alumni and teachers here, as well. My mother (Diane) was a wellness teacher at the high school, and also the K-12 wellness coordinator for 30 years. Her passion for teaching and seeing the impact she has had on her students played a big role in me becoming an educator.”

Once a Saugonian, Always a Saugonian

Matt remembers what his dad told him about the town. “Never forget where you came from is something my father always used to say to me,” said a proud son. “The main difference now from 20 years ago is that there are opportunities to play elsewhere, but more opportunities don’t always mean better opportunities.”

Matt also referenced that Saugus sports has a lot of great teams that have had continued success, and it continues today. “Our athletes and coaches have been putting in a lot of hard work over the summer, and are looking to build upon their accomplishments from last year,” he added. “Our community believes in the continued growth and success of our schools and athletics, which is why they voted for the new facilities. I believe we will continue to see the benefits of that decision in years to come.”

Getting to know his coaches

Upon getting the job. Matt emailed his entire coaching staff, but have only had a chance to talk or meet directly with the fall coaches since their season is right around the corner. He said that there’s only one change among the fall coaches, and it’s a significant one, when legendary girls soccer coach Chris Coviello stepped down as head coach of that team last spring. His replacement will be April Martinez, SHS Class of 1990, whose father was soccer coaching great Ted Moriello. Kelly Barressi will be an assistant coach.

“My goal is to start meeting with the players over the next few weeks, before the preseason begins. I’ll then sit down with the winter and spring coaches,” said Matt. “I’m a firm believer that if you create a culture where kids want to show up every day and be respectful, while giving 120%, they will work for one another and for the name on the front of the jersey, rather than the back. And that’s the message and goals that I’ll bring up to my coaches.

“Although I’m overly familiar with a lot here in Saugus, I’ve been in another district for the last 13 years, so my {personal} goal this year is to learn the needs of our programs, and see how I can best help support those needs. I want to get this community excited about athletics. As I previously mentioned, we are all in this together. It has to be a community effort.”

Matt Serino practices what he preaches, as he has all three of his daughters in the town’s youth sports programs. Saugus in many respects remains a town made up of close-knit families, and the new athletic director at the high school is determined to maintain that everlasting virtue.