St. John's names Gary Senecal new football coach

St. John’s names Gary Senecal new football coach

Posted by author February 16, 2025 Football

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St. John’s High has been searching for a football coach to revive its’s once proud, prolific and powerful program since it parted ways with John Vassar four weeks ago.

The Pioneers announced Saturday evening they’ve found the right person to handle that tough task in Worcester native Gary Senecal.

“Growing up in Worcester and graduating from St. Peter-Marian, I’ve always known St. John’s to be among the top programs in Central Mass.,” Senecal said via a school-issued press release. “Tough, competitive, and built on a long legacy of excellence. Over the past two years, I’ve had the privilege of becoming a part of this community and competing in the highly competitive Catholic Conference.

“It is my top priority to not only ensure our team has the support it needs to be confident and successful as a top contender in Division 1 football, but also to serve as a partner to our players and families in achieving individual player development and success here at Saint John’s and beyond.”

Senecal currently coaches the Pioneers’ indoor and outdoor track teams, and will continue to do so. His resume also includes a stint as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at St. John’s.

Senecal was the head football coach at St. Paul last fall and guided the Knights to a 6-5 record and a berth in the Division 7 state tournament in his one season on Granite Street.

St. Paul, which merged with St. Peter-Marian ‒ Senecal’s alma mater ‒ and Holy Name in 2020, went 6-24 in the three seasons prior to Senecal’s arrival.

In addition to St. Paul, Senecal has also coached football at SPM, Keefe Tech, the University of West Georgia, and Assumption University, where he’s been an assistant professor doing research on the transition of veterans and athletes following the conclusion of their respective careers since 2019.

Senecal graduated from St. Anselm College before going on to earn a Master’s from the Katholieke Universiteit of Leuven in Belgium, and doctorate from West Georgia.

He’s also been a member of the U.S. Army Reserves since 2013, having previously spent nearly a year deployed in the Horn of Africa.

The Pioneers have gone 5-6 and 3-8, including 1-9 in Catholic Conference play, over the past two seasons and last posted a winning record in in 2019.

—Contact Rich Garven at rgarven@telegram.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @RichGarvenTG.