Winthrop High School athletic director Matt Serino has stepped down as the athletic director at Winthrop High School and will become the new athletic director July 1 at Saugus High School, his alma mater.
Serino began his tenure in the school district as a health teacher before being appointed to the athletic director’s position in 2014. His record as the leader of the Vikings’ athletic program was exemplary as Winthrop teams won multiple championships and were highly competitive in the Northeastern Conference, with athletes setting individual records and earning All-NEC and All-Scholastic honors. The hockey team, for example, was a state Final Four team in the 2023-2024 season, led by head coach Dale Dunbar and featuring one of the program’s all-time greatest players in Petey Silverman. Serino leaves the entire athletic program on an excellent foundation with participation at an all-time high.
“I loved every second I spent I Winthrop,” said Serino, a two-time state hockey champion and All-Scholastic himself while a student at Saugus High. “Winthrop is a beautiful town and a beautiful community. The people opened their arms and welcomed me, and I will forever be grateful for that. They have been supportive of me from Day 1. It was a dream come true working there. I have been able to grow not only professionally but as a person there. I’m forever thankful for all the relationships that I built. I’m super thankful to Gail Conlon and John Macero who gave me a job as a health teacher to start off, and then I was fortunate that John gave me the job as an athletic director. And then working under Matt Crombie and Lisa Howard, I couldn’t have asked for two better people to work under – they’re everything that Winthrop stands for. This community is in great hands with their leadership. They are exceptional people who are in their jobs for the right reasons. They are there for the children.”
Winthrop High coaches praised Serino for his outstanding support and assistance to their programs.
“It was an absolutely pleasure to work with Matt,” said Winthrop High girls hockey head coach Anthony Martucci. “He was fantastic to myself and my wife [girls soccer head coach Tracey Martucci]. He made sure our teams were always taken care of. He helped us all the time with everything and we’re going to miss him. We wish him all the best.”
Boys hockey head coach Dale Dunbar said Serino called him personally to let him know of his decision to step down.
“Matt’s an outstanding person and was a tremendous asset to this town,” said Dunbar. “He’s left his imprint on our athletic program, our community, and more importantly, with our student-athletes. I wish him nothing but the best. He’s a class act and he made my job a lot easier because all I had to do is coach. Saugus is a perfect fit for him and his family. I wish him success except when he plays us.”
Head football coach Jon Cadigan said he and Serino were teaching colleagues prior to his appointment as athletic director.
“Matt started out as a teacher here and we became friends,” said Cadigan. “He obviously made the greatest hire in Winthrop High School history by hiring me as the head football coach and that was good. No, seriously, he is a great guy and a friend of a mine, and I don’t say that lightly. Matt would do everything for us as a program. He’s also been there for me after a tough loss or a great win. We’re certainly going to miss Matt, but we’ll see him at least once year. His leaving is a loss for Winthrop High School.”
School Committeeman Gus Martucci, a Super Bowl championship center for the WHS football Vikings in the 1981 season, said the job has been posted and several people have expressed interest in applying for the position.