'I walked the same path': Jermaine Wiggins introduced as Brockton High football coach

BROCKTON – The podium on the Marciano Stadium turf was positioned outwards, facing a row of cameras and reporters.

After an introduction from principal Cynthia Burns, former New England Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins stepped to the microphone, took out a sheet of notes and made his opening remarks as the new head coach of the Brockton High football team Friday afternoon.

That was until midway through what was an 11-minute speech, when the 48-year-old East Boston native turned to his right and faced his new players, who all sat together on the distant bleachers.

"I don't like having my back to these young kids," Wiggins told reporters, set to deliver a message to the team. "I want them to see I'm no different than them. I walked the same path. Obviously, I didn't grow up in Brockton, but East Boston was no different. I came from basically nothing, in a sense. I grew up in a single-parent household. My mother worked multiple jobs. I grew up in an environment, where – it was a great environment. It bred pride. It taught me all the things I am today. But also, there were challenges.”

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Wiggins takes over for Peter Colombo, who retired at the end of last season after a 20-season tenure with the Boxers that featured a 132-72 overall record, five Super Bowl appearances and back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005.

“It is an extremely proud moment for me," said Wiggins.

Wiggins caught two passes in the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVI win over the St. Louis Rams in 2002 and finished his seven-year NFL career with totals of 2,141 receiving yards, 236 receptions and 14 touchdowns across stints with four different teams (Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts). He spent portions of three seasons in New England.

Wiggins entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 1999 after a college career at the University of Georgia and a standout high school career at East Boston High. He is currently a sports talk radio co-host on WEEI, a job he reassured Friday that he will continue doing.

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Brockton High is coming off its 125th anniversary season, in which it earned a 9-2 record and finished with a 37-34 defeat to Methuen in the first round of the Division 1 state tournament.

“Today, we welcome Coach Wiggins," superintendent Mike Thomas said. "We’re thrilled to have him with us. Brockton has always been great – the City of Champions. Now we have a champion to coach the team.”

“What Jermaine Wiggins just shared with me and superintendent Mike Thomas is, he’s not just going to be a coach," said mayor Robert F. Sullivan. "He’s going to surround himself with excellent people – we’ve had excellent people and we will continue to have excellent people coaching here at Brockton – but it's about making sure the boys and girls understand how important it is to have a (respectable) GPA. It’s making sure you’re hitting the books and giving back to the community.

"So, Jermaine," added Sullivan, "I want to thank you for who you are, what you’re bringing to the table. We’re the City of Champions, you’re a Super Bowl champion. Welcome. God bless you. Good luck, Brockton Boxers.”

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During his his opening remarks Friday, Wiggins credited his former NFL coaches Bill Belichick and Bill Parcells; his college coach, Jim Donnan; his high school basketball coach, Mike Rubin; and his high school football coach, John Loftus, for playing a part in him “going on a straightened arrow," he said. "Sports kept me off the wrong path. ... (Those coaches) taught me all the things I needed to be taught in how to be successful."

“That is my goal here. That is what I want to do here. That is why I’m here," said Wiggins. "To show everybody that looks like me, talks like me, walks like me and is from a place very similar to where I’m from that anything can be obtained. I think that’s the biggest thing.”

Brockton High announced the hire via press release Thursday afternoon, much to the surprise to a few players that a Super Bowl champion will lead the program forward.

“At first, I didn’t believe it," said lineman Makhi Boston, who added he first saw the news on Instagram. "When I found out, it was really cool to know we could have someone of a high level to come in and have a connection with us on a personal level and know where we stand as student-athletes. I think it’s going to be a good connection to pick up where we left off.”

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“I was definitely excited," said wide receiver Cam Monteiro, who has fielded multiple offers from Division 1 colleges in recent months. "He has the football experience. It’s a plus for us.”

Growing up locally, Wiggins recalls memories of observing the program's dynastic run under Armond Colombo, when Brockton and Everett were the state's top two heavyweight programs: "That’s something I want to bring back. I want to do everything on my part," said Wiggins. Armond Colombo, who stepped down in 2003 due to a heart ailment and was replaced by his son Peter, retired with 316 career wins, a state record that stood until 2014.

“Obviously you see what the Colombos have created here. It’s an honor to follow in those footsteps," said Wiggins. "Like I tell my kids, to come from a great legacy is one thing, but now you have to create your own. That’s what I intend to do. My goal is to give every athlete that steps on this field skills and tools that I think are so important in life. I want to see them grow into young adults that are successful, that are contributing to their community, that are contributing to their family legacy.”

It's the first time in 54 years that a Colombo will not be the Boxers' head coach.

“It’s definitely going to take some getting used to," Monteiro said. "Going into my senior year, I’ve been here three years. Same coaches, nothing changed. It’s going to be a new atmosphere, a new culture.”

Said Boston, “What (Wiggins) knows in his mind about football, about being a student-athlete, about everything we’re doing he’s already done it and achieved it at a higher level. We’re really excited about what he’ll bring to the team."

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Jermaine Wiggins introduced as Brockton High's new football coach