Crimson Tide turn to Pierre
EVERETT — Theluxon Pierre was at a crossroads in his young life.
The Everett native was just finishing up his football and academic career at UMass in 2008 when he called up his former high school football coach John DiBiaso seeking advice.
“He told me to come back here to Everett to teach and coach,” Pierre said. “It’s probably the best decision I’ve made in my life.”
Yesterday, Everett superintendent Frederick Foresteire officially announced the hiring of Pierre as the school’s new head football coach, replacing the legendary DiBiaso, who took a head coaching position at Catholic Memorial. Pierre was quick to say the goals remain the same as they did under his former coach.
“Nothing is changing. This is Everett and we’re still chasing championships,” Pierre said. “It’s always been about the players here. They are the one who do the work and go out there and play.”
Several of the current Everett football players were on hand to lend to support to Pierre, described by many as one of the most popular teachers in the school. Many stayed around after the press conference to pose for pictures with Pierre.
“He’s a great guy, a good football coach,” said senior defensive back Jason Maitre. “He’s hard-nosed, he’s going to get the players to work. I think he’s going to do great there.”
Pierre isn’t naive in that he knows he has big shoes to fill. DiBiaso took over at his high school alma mater in 1992 and returned the Crimson Tide to glory. He won 11 Super Bowls at Everett and posted an amazing 252-33 record (304-75-1 overall) before stepping down in December.
“You can’t put your finger on one thing he did,” Pierre said of DiBiaso. “He just knew how to manage the entire team. He knew how to manage talent, but he managed to get everyone involved. That’s something he was great at.”
Pierre was a standout defensive end at Everett, a three-time All-Greater Boston League selection and two-time team defensive MVP. He was a part of two Super Bowl championship teams (2002 and 2003) and the Crimson Tide were 36-1 with him in the lineup.
DiBiaso has never been shy in praise in Pierre, whether it was a player or assistant on his staff. He feels the school made a home run hire in Pierre.
“The school made a wonderful decision,” said DiBiaso, who won his 500th basketball game Thursday night, making him the only coach in state history with 300 football and 500 basketball wins. “He is a great role model for the kids in this community. He played here, went to play college football at a high level and came back here to raise his family. It’s just a perfect fit.”
One issue Pierre will have to deal with right away is making sure key underclassmen don’t head elsewhere. All-Scholastic safety Lewis Cine, one of the toprated juniors in the country, already has decided to transfer to Trinity Christian Academy in Texas. Several other juniors have looked into local prep schools, a fact not lost on Pierre.
“They lost the greatest high school football coach in state history, the kids are going to get worried, the adults are even getting worried,” Pierre said. “The kids are 15, 16, 17 years old, so I understand it. But now they have a familiar face in the house, the same coaching staff is pretty much coming back. They know they can trust me and know I am going to stand by them.”