Those in the know feel Chad Zibolis, right, is the candidate who will get the thumbs up for the North football job when the Board of Education meets next week. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA — Expect a new Nashua High School North football coach to be named sometime next week.

Nashua Athletic Director Lisa Gingras told nashuatelegraph.com that the interview process to find a candidate to replace former Titans coach Dante Laurendi was completed last week and a candidate’s name is being forwarded to the Board of Education for approval. The Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday night at North.

“We have somebody,” Gingras said. “I’m hoping it can go through and it will be official after that and we can start moving forward.”

Who might that candidate be? The Nashua athletic department policy is understandably to not reveal those names until they are voted on so as not to upstage the Board of Education, which has final say. However, all unofficial signs seem to be pointing toward the idea that Titans offensive coordinator Chad Zibolis is the leader in the clubhouse. That was the expectation when he applied for the job, depending, of course, on the other candidates, and the thoughts from some on the outside looking in is that hasn’t changed.

It would make sense. Zibolis, who is also the Titans wrestling coach, has been Laurendi’s right hand man for several years, as far back as Laurendi’s tenure coaching at Merrimack. Laurendi, who is the North athletics coordinator, stepped down last month, saying he felt it was time for a change.

Gingras said she was pleased with the pool of candidates as well as the process, which didn’t take quite as long as first thought. Gingras had said last month she wanted someone in place by April vacation and that goal should be beaten by a month’s time.

If – and again, that’s an if – Zibolis is the choice, he would have beaten out some good competition, it seems.

“We had some very, very qualified candidates that came in,” Gingras said. “Again, fortunately, with basketball ending so early, it gave me that extra time to focus on it, screening applicants, some applications, I did some pre-reference checks before even contacting people to come in for interviews.

“We brought people in for interviews, we had a good committee, made the right selection, I think, for a good transition as well as longevity looking for the future.”

Transition and longevity would seem to suggest someone like Zibolis, who teaches in the system and certainly would make for a smooth transition, having been part of the program for the last seven years. We’ll find out for sure, presumably, next Monday night.

Gingras said getting someone in place at this time of year is important, “especially with a sport like football, being able to get kids in the weight room and start doing some off-season planning and things like that.”

DE LA ROSA BACK AT SOUTH

Nashua High School South baseball coach James Gaj got a call recently from a San Diego Padres scout. He found out then just how all eyes will likely be on his shortstop, Albert De La Rosa, this spring.

If that name sounds familiar, De La Rosa was the starting shortstop as a freshman three years ago for the Panthers. Then the pandemic came cancelling the 2020 season, and the family had moved away. A few months ago, De La Rosa returned to the area and enrolled back at South.

“It feels nice, I want to win a championship,” De La Rosa said the other day after the Panthers’ first practice. “I’m ready to play, I feel good. I’ve missed this place.”

De La Rosa says he is ready for the attention, as he could be drafted in July when the MLB Amateur Entry Draft is held during the All-Star break.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “I’ve been working a lot for this. It’s my dream to make it to MLB. So I want to work more hard, more hard,more hard. It’s a great opportunity.”

Albert De La Rosa slides into second during a game for Nashua South three years ago. De La Rosa, now a senior, is back in the area and will play for South this spring, while Major League scouts are expected to keep a close watch. (Telegraph file photo by TOM KING)

HOSEY GETS FITCHBURG JOB

It looks like Merrimack boys soccer will have its third coach in three seasons, as Daniel Webster alum Brad Hosey is taking the head coaching job at Fitchburg State.

Hosey guided the Tomahawks last season after coaching at Becker College, which closed its doors a year ago. He was former DWC coach Matt Correia’s assistant at Salem State before coaching at Becker for two seasons.

“We are excited to have Hosey join the Falcons staff,” FSU AD Matt Burke said in a release. “His coaching background and soccer perspective will help establish a new foundation for the soccer program and propel Fitchburg State to the next level.”

Hosey was hoping to do that with Merrimack after a rebuilding year. The Tomahawks, with very few returnees, finished 4-12 last fall.

“Things will get tougher for SSU soccer,” Correia posted on social media. “But proud and excited for the battles that we are going to have.”

SOUTH CEREMONY POSTPONED

The Nashua South boys soccer team was supposed to have been honored Tuesday morning at the school by New Hampshire State Senator Cindy Rosenwald. She was going to present a NH Senate Resolution in recognition of the Panthers state Division I title won in a shootout over Hanover back in early November.

Rosenwald had to postpone so the ceremony has been tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday, April 5 in the South rotunda at 10 a.m.