Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator: Pat Downey

Coach Downey is incredibly excited to lead the Pingree’s Highlanders Football Program to continued success. He comes to Pingree with an extensive football playing and coaching background. Coach Downey is a Graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he was a 4 year starter, Team Captain of the Wildcats and two-time All-Conference, All-East and All-New England athlete. Coach Downey went on to sign as an Undrafted Free Agent with the San Diego Chargers in the NFL and played 6 seasons in the Pro’s spending time with the Washington Commanders, Atlanta Falcons and in Training Camp with the New England Patriots. Coach Downey also played professionally in NFL Europe for the Frankfurt Galaxy and in the Arena Football League for the Nashville Kats and the Colorado Crush.

 Coach Downey has coached at all three levels including as an Assistant Coach at Swampscott High School, Malden Catholic and at his Alma Mater Bishop Fenwick where he was recently inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. In addition to his high school coaching experience, Coach Downey also served as an Assistant Coach at Curry College for Head Coach Skip Bandini. Coach Downey has also coached at the professional level in the Arena Football League serving as the Associate Head Coach of the Philadelphia Soul and with the Columbus Destroyers.

Coach Downey and his Wife Andrea and their three children Jackson, Peyton and Colton reside in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He is an experienced Sales Director in the Medical Device Industry. 

Defensive Coordinator: Andrew Morency 

Andrew Morency, an esteemed figure in the world of high school athletics, boasts an impressive legacy as both a player and a coach. A former Beverly High School Hall of Fame athlete. With three decades of coaching experience under his belt, Morency has achieved significant milestones. He has amassed 84 career wins as a head coach and has been honored multiple times, including being named the Salem News Coach of the Year three times, the 104.9 FM Coach of the Year twice, the Cape Ann League Coach of the Year twice, and the Boston Globe Coach of the Year.  During his ten-year tenure as the head coach at Hamilton-Wenham High School, Morency became the all-time leader in school wins. He led the team to two Cape Ann League championships, four playoff qualifications, including the school’s first-ever playoff appearance, an undefeated season, and a Super Bowl appearance.Beyond his coaching career, Morency is a proud father of his two kids Gabrielle and Mathew. Professionally, he contributes to the academic community as a history teacher at Beverly High School and as an adjunct faculty member at Salem State University.

Defensive Coordinator: Scott Shairs 

Coach Scott Shairs attended Beverly High School where he was a three-sport athlete who played football, basketball, and lacrosse (captain). He went on to play college football at Norwich University. After his playing days were done, Scott wanted to begin coaching where he could reciprocate some of the lessons and skills he had acquired as a player under the exceptional mentors and coaches he had. He started at the YMCA in Beverly to coach young kids in basketball and went on from there to coach youth football as well. Soon after he was asked to join as a Varsity assistant coach for the Beverly High School Girls Basketball program where he stayed from 2000-2007. He then moved back to football in 2006 where he worked as Varsity assistant coach for Hamilton Wenham Regional High School coaching WR’s on offense and defensive backs on defense until 2013. In 2016, he joined the Beverly High School Varsity Football program as Defensive Coordinator, as well as coaching the RB’s and QB’s on offense where he stayed through 2021. During his time coaching with Beverly, he was afforded the opportunity to coach in the Harry Agganis Football Game in the summer of 2017. As a father of three, all of whom have been student athletes, he has a deep understanding and perspective as both coach and parent.

Quarterbacks/Receivers: Anthony Pasquarosa

Anthony played college football at Division II St. Anslems College. A resident of Beverly, Anthony is looking forward to assisting in the passing game on offensive coaching the quarterbacks and receivers. In addition, he helps with team operations.

Offensive Line: Andrew Cronis

A graduate of Hamilton College, Andrew was a 3 year starter in college and served as a team captain at Hamilton. A current resident of Danvers, he is looking forward to helping developing and teaching the offensive lineman. A three-year varsity athlete at Newton South, Tony went on to play baseball at Plymouth State University.

Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs: Tony Pasquarosa

Tony enters his second year at Pingree, bringing over a decade over coaching experience. Before Pingree, he spent four years a t Beverly High and prior to that a coach and board member for Beverly Youth Football. 

Special Teams: Mike Wilmot

Mike Wilmot, a history teacher at Pingree, began his coaching career in 2010 and has worked with both the football and baseball programs at the school. He has been impressed with both the level of play and the quality sportsmanship of the Pingree athletics program specifically, as well as the EIL and Evergreen League in general. Before joining the Highlanders, Coach Wilmot worked as the head coach of JV baseball and defensive coordinator of the JV football squad at Cushing Academy. In his previous athletic career, Coach Wilmot enjoyed playing baseball, football, and rugby.