Friday Night Lights, a common football tradition for high schools around the country has increased schoolwide interest in football. Students attend games with outfits that match the pre-determined theme and scream chants while players fight for yards. But beyond the bleachers, past the fence, and onto the field lies not only the team itself, but the head coach–the mastermind behind every play and touchdown in a game. This upcoming fall season, Goffstown High School’s (GHS) Football Team will be under a new reign, with Mr. Kevin McGinty as the new head coach.
While being head coach for GHS is a new opportunity for him, Mr. McGinty is no stranger to football. Former science teacher and head coach at both John Stark High School in Weare and Bishop MacheBeuF in Denver Colorado, Mr. McGinty also served as an assistant football coach for GHS in the 2023-2024 fall season. Currently, Mr. McGinty is a third year science teacher at GHS.
Mr. McGinty took a break from coaching when at John Stark to “watch [his] own kids in their high school sports”. He highlights how football is a lot of time and work–which he does enjoy–but he is eager to be back on the field.
As for the future of GHS football, Mr. McGinty’s “number one goal is to help the players become a team together” emphasizing that “football is about sacrificing for each other, it is not about personal glory”. He urges the need for the GHS football program as a whole to help out teammates, all improving together. To Mr. McGinty, what makes a successful team is one where the players are consistently working to improve and achieve greater things. He explains that if players “give it [all they’ve] got, then the record or outcome of a game doesn’t matter”.
Mr. McGinty hopes to use his role as head coach to brighten the spirits of GHS’ football team, because for years the Grizzlies have faced loss after loss, struggling to remain on a victory streak. To get the team up and running, Mr. McGinty is looking for three additional assistant coaches along with two team managers. McGinty is also in need of players, stating “we have athletes in the school who can propel the team to success”. In order to achieve this, Mr. McGinty is holding a summer camp in June. This opportunity does not require fall commitment and is for anyone interested in what football is about.
High school football is more than scoring touchdowns and dressing up under the lights. Football games are often the center of community life, bringing together family and friends together to show support for their team. What Mr. McGinty loves most about Goffstown “is that there is so much community support for the team.”
Congratulations Mr. McGinty!
