Acton Boxborough Colonial Club
Paul McDermott
The movie Old School, shouldn't have been a comedy staring Will Farrell, it should have been a documentary on Coach Paul McDermott. Our connotation of Old School is a positive one. Paul McDermott is a teacher, in the best sense of the word. Fortunately, for the student athletes at Acton-Boxboro, we were subjected to excellence in his English class rooms and molded by his astute and demanding presence on field and court.
Paul came to Acton-Boxboro in 1968 after five years teaching and coaching in the Somerville school system. Prior to that, Paul was an outstanding athlete at BC High and Boston State College (UMASS-Boston), as a four year basketball starter, captain and Most Valuable Player his senior year. Spanning a career of 32 years at AB, he dedicated himself to the betterment of AB students and athletes.
Paul coached the freshmen football team for 20 years hardening the lads to the truths of high school athletics. In 1979 he received the coveted "12th Man Award." He coached the boys JV basketball team for 6 years and was named the girls varsity basketball coach in 1980. He was the Dual County League Coach of the Year in 83-84 and 85-86 seasons. Coach McDermott's teams never had a losing record, qualifying for the tournament 9 out of 11 seasons. His regular season record was 152 and 56 and his tournament record was 15-9.
Paul raised three daughters, Carol, Susan, Kerry and celebrated the births of four grandchildren. His most memorable moments at Acton-Boxboro was being selected for this Hall of Fame and the many wonderful memories of so many great student athletes and so many good people in the AB community - "a remarkable 32 years in a special place. Coach McDermott, we salute you.