By Max Bowen-max.bowen@northstarreporter.com
Mike Strachan, who has coached both locally and overseas, has been named the new head coach of North Attleborough High School football.
In an announcement from the school district, Strachan will take the position held by Don Johnson for nearly four decades. Johnson returned in early February after 39 years with the team, 13 of which as head coach. Strachan is a 1986 graduate of North Attleborough High and played football under longtime coach Ray Beaupre. He has been the Attleboro High head football coach since 2013.
“Coach Strachan’s career success speaks for itself, and we look forward to having someone with his proven track record of success being our next football coach,” said Athletic Director Kurt Kummer in a statement. “But more importantly than his on-field success, it means a great deal to have someone who knows this community and has lived the North Attleborough High School experience. To have a new head coach in place with such a high level of coaching experience coupled with a history and deep love of North Attleborough makes him a perfect choice to take over the highly coveted position of our head football coach.”
After graduating from NAHS he went on to play at Stonehill College before coaching. He served for several years as a head coach of the Stockholm Mean Machines, a Swedish professional football team. During his time with the Mean Machines, Strachan led the team to its first national championship in 1990, in addition to multiple other playoff appearances. He also served as head coach of the Swedish National Football Team, leading them to a Scandinavian Championship in 1993 and a fourth-place overall finish in Europe.
Strachan returned to the United States to serve as defensive coordinator at Framingham State University for three years. He was named head coach at FSU in 1995, a position held for seven years.
During Strachan’s time as Attleboro High’s head coach, the Blue Bombardiers made eight playoff appearances and were a Div. I South Sectional finalist in 2013. That same year, Strachan was recognized as the Hockomock League Coach of the Year and was chosen by the New England Patriots as an NFL Coach of the Week. The team was also a three-time recipient of the Hockomock League Sportsmanship Award.
“I started playing football as a youngster here in North Attleborough, and I still feel as passionate about the game now as I did when I played with my friends and brothers in our backyards,” said Strachan. “My commitment, hard work and love for football have opened many doors for me in my career, and I look forward to making a positive impact on the lives of our student-athletes. I am still in close contact with many of the players I have coached over the years, whether they were from my time in Sweden, at Framingham State or at Attleboro High, and making those connections and being a positive role model is one of the things I enjoy the most about coaching.”
