Falmouth high school’s 17-year head football coach John Fitzsimmons resigned on Wednesday in the wake of a player-generated petition citing mass attrition and player safety concerns.
More than 30 active and former players submitted a petition to the Falmouth School Board on Tuesday, which Superintendent Gretchen McNulty accepted. The petition stated that 41 percent of players quit prior to the 2023 season, and that one third of the roster suffered a fracture or concussion during the 2023 season — a rate six times higher than the national average for high school football players, as reported by the Journal of Pediatrics in 2020.
“Coach Fitzsimmons, valuing the well-being of his players and respecting their concerns, is choosing not to return to his position as head coach,” Superintendent McNulty stated on Thursday. “I want to thank Coach Fitzsimmons for his many years of dedicated service to the
football program and his contributions to our community.”
Fitzsimmons, 74, has been referred to as “the father of Falmouth football,” formerly serving as Falmouth’s youth football coordinator, the middle school coach, and the varsity offensive coordinator. Fitzsimmons was hired as the varsity head football coach in 2007, leading the Navigators to 11 winning records, 12 playoff appearances and three regional finals.
The petition was generated last week after the Falmouth School Board failed to recommend removing Fitzsimmons, as part of the district’s formal staff complaint process in response to letters submitted to the board by more than 36 players and parents.
“I love coaching football and I really enjoyed being around the players but what has changed? The big difference was the player petition,” Fitzsimmons told the Portland Press Herald. “I honestly thought even though we’d lose some (players) we’d be in really good shape to play. Once I saw it was the majority of the players, it wasn’t fair for them or for me to stay.”
From 1990 to 2015 Fitzsimmons served as the president of the Maine Community College System. Prior to that, he was the state commissioner of labor under Gov. John McKernan, earning a National Alliance of Business State of the Year Award.
As a Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, he served in Vietnam and chaired the veterans group for the Maine Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
A group of 44 former players submitted a letter to the Falmouth School Board earlier this month, describing their fond memories of playing under Fitzsimmons, and emphasizing his history of community service.
“There were a number of players both before me and after me who had great fond memories of Coach Fitzsimmons and we wanted to let (the school board) know he always put us in the best position to be successful both on the field and off,” Noah Nelson, Class of 2015, said.