Ends 18 year career with 131-60-3 record and four Super Bowl appearances
MIKE BOYAGES coached his last Warrior football game on Friday as it was announced at halftime that he was retiring. The Warriors dropped Boyages’ final game by a 15-14 score against Melrose at Landrigan Field. (Donna Larsson Photo)
By JIM SOUTHMAYD
WAKEFIELD — Halftime of the Thanksgiving Classic between the Wakefield Memorial HIgh and Melrose High football teams featured some of the usual festivities. The two marching bands played, the WMHS dance team performed and the Tarpey Insurance field goal contest took place.
However there was one more event that took place on Friday between the second and third quarters. Members of the cheerleaders, dance team, marching band, assistant coaches and Warrior Club gathered at the middle of Landrigan Field to present Head Coach Mike Boyages with a plaque and it was announced at that time that Boyages was coaching in his final game for the Warriors.
Boyages has officially retired as head football coach after 18 years of guiding the Warriors. Boyages made his decision at the beginning of the season but didn’t announce it publicly. He met with the members of the Warrior football team on Friday morning and told them he was not coming back.
Boyages, the director of Athletics and Student Activities at WMHS, will stay on in that position for the time being. He didn’t want to discuss whether he is going to eventually retired from that position as well. He would only reflect on his football coaching career on Friday.
“I knew at the beginning of the season that this was going to be my last year,” said Boyages. “I wanted the focus to be on the kids. I was surprised at halftime. I didn’t know that was planned. (Dr.) Kim Smith must have helped plan that. I’ve been lucky having been able to coach in my home town where I have taught and raised my kids.”
Boyages concluded his 18 year career as Warrior head coach with a 131-60-3 record. During his time as WMHS head football coach, Wakefield made four Super Bowl appearances (1997, 1999, 2001 and 2011) and captured one Super Bowl championship in 1999 with a 13-7 triumph over Acton-Boxboro.
Wakefield also went undefeated in ‘99 with a 10-0-1 record and was a co-champion of the Middlesex League with Melrose (9-0-1). The Warriors won the now infamous “coin flip” to advance to the Super Bowl which they won. That 1999 Super Bowl championship football team was just inducted into the WMHS Athletic Hall of Fame.
Boyages is a former WMHS student and was a standout athlete, particularly in football where he was a former quarterback. He also played basketball and baseball. The 1976 graduate then attended Springfield College where he graduated in 1980. He then received a master’s of Education in Administration from Salem State College and holds state certificates in physical education, health science and administration.
Boyages was a physical education teacher in Wakefield since 1982 until he became the director of Athletics and Student Activities in 2006. He has been with the Warrior football program for about 35 years as assistant coach and the freshman coach before he was named the head coach in 1997.
Boyages also coached basketball where he was the freshman coach at WMHS for four years before becoming the JV coach in Melrose. He then became the varsity head coach at Stoneham High School and also was the head boys hoop coach at Winchester High.
Boyages resides in Wakefield with his wife Cathy and has two children, Caitlin and Zack. Mike Boyages coached his son, Zack, and the younger Boyages is now an assistant coach on the Warrior staff.
