Merrimack girls track coach Shawn Croteau passed away suddenly this past week. (Legacy.com photo)

MERRIMACK – The Merrimack High School girls track team – really, the Tomahawks track program in general – is dealing with what can be construed as its worst nightmare: Losing its longtime coach just beyond the mid-point of its season.

The Tomahawks are mourning the loss of winter and spring head girls coach Shawn Croteau, who was found deceased in his home in Newbury earlier this past week. Authorities said the death was not of a suspicious nature, but Croteau on Friday was also declared by Manchester police a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run that occurred a week ago in Manchester.

But as far as the Tomahawks are concerned, he was their beloved longtime coach and will be incredibly missed.

“Shawn has been an integral part of the track and field program at Merrimack HS for 21 years,” longtime Tomahawk coach John Snell said in an email to the teams and Merrimack track community in general late this week. “In that time, he had the opportunity of helping multitudes of student athletes reach their goals.”

Croteau last coached the Tomahawks in their regular season meet Sunday at UNH. The team had a meet Saturday at UNH as well, and has a series of qualifying meets ahead leading up to the Divison I State Championship Meet at Dartmouth College on Sunday, Feb. 12.

It’s the first official NHIAA indoor season with a championship since February of 2020, just before the pandemic.

The longtime physical education teacher in the Merrimack system was popular with coaches and athletes alike.

“Shawn always put the person first as he strived to make our sport fun while the kids tested their boundaries,” Snell continued, “and excelled as people and athletes.

“His coaching companions will sorely miss Shawn; he was a reliable person whose insight and knowledge were invaluable.”

The Merrimack athletes have found a way to honor Croteau, with the Tomahawks’ Lily Farrell organizing a “blue out” for this Monday.

“This is only a small gesture,” Farrell wrote in an email, “but I feel it would be a positive way to remember our coach. Coach Croteau was a wonderful coach and mentor to all of us.”

Farrell said the team will forge ahead in Croteau’s memory.

“I’m certain I can speak for all when I say his presence will be deeply missed,” Farrell wrote, “but greatly remembered and honored as we continue on through the season.”

Merrimack athletic director Mike Soucy referred all questions on Croteau to Superintendent William Olsen, but Olsen was not in the SAU office on Friday.

However, Soucy did say that Snell and coach Joe Sanborn will, along with the other track and field assistants, guide the Tomahawk girls the rest of the way.

That’s usually been the norm, anyway, Soucy said.

“It’s always been a pretty collaborative process,” he said. “They’ll piece it all together as they go forward.”

The area has had its share of losing popular coaches in the last two years. Croteau is the second one to have passed in-season; almost exactly two years ago Milford boys basketball coach Dan Murray died after enduring an illness that winter. And last month Nashua South lost assistant football coach Bill Monsen a couple of weeks after he suffered an extreme medical episode on Thanksgiving.