John Walsh, the boyish looking first-time head coach who led the Danvers High boys to achievements reserved for the Cambridges, Charlestowns and Catholic Memorials of the Bay State schoolboy hoop world, resigned Tuesday as Falcons’ head coach after six years on the job.
He arrived on the scene with no varsity coaching experience except as his cousin’s assistant varsity coach for five years at Watertown. He led his first Falcon varsity to a stunning turnaround from the prior year, posting a 13-10 record and guiding his charges to two EMass tournament victories for the first time in program history.
It only got better after that:
- Division 3 state championship, 21-4 record
- Division 3 state championship, 24-2 record
- Division 2 North finalist, 20-3 record
- Division 2 state championship, a perfect, history-making 27-0 record
- Fifth-time NEC Division champ, first year in NEC Large, 18-5 record, accomplished with a group that was wiped out in the frontcourt, losing three superb players who made up the most productive — and tallest — forward-center package in the state
Walsh, a father of three young children and a devoted husband, almost bowed out last year, but wanted to see it through one more year to be a part of the senior seasons of three of his favorites, Rashad Francois, Mike Nestor and Tre Crittendon.
Walsh finishes with a sensational 123-24 record, 23-3 in the post-season and won 30 straight at home before falling to Brighton in their Division 2 North quarterfinal 10 days ago.
The last five years his regular season record was 89-12, 100-21 over six years.
Walsh made Danvers a state powerhouse/dynasty. The Boston Globe ranked the Falcons No. 1 at the conclusion of the 2014 and 2015 regular season. They were ranked No. 13 at the end of the 2016 regular season.
Walsh was honored as The Boston Globe Division 3 Coach of the Year once and the Division 2 Coach of the Year a year ago.
He reached the 100-win milestone the fastest of any North Shore coach.
Walsh will make his final public appearance as the Danvers High coach at the team’s breakup banquet on Tuesday, March 29.