NORTH ADAMS
When Jenn Allard accepted the coaching position of the Drury girls' track and field team this season, one may wonder if she was aware of the rich traditions she was bringing with her and how those traditions will assist her this year and years to come.
As a former three-sport standout athlete at Drury, Allard knows what it's like to push herself and her team to new levels. A graduate of 2002, Allard was a member of the girls' soccer team, Western Mass. championship girls' basketball team and the famous 4x100 meter relay team of Katelyn Cunningham, Amanda Chilson, Sarah Boucher and Allard, which won Western Mass. in 1999.
The 2002 track season ended as a great one for the Blue Devils and Allard because the team went undefeated, the first time in the program's history. Not only was she talented, Allard was also very passionate about the sports she participated in and had a role in building a solid girls' athletic program.
As a soccer player, Allard was always given the assignment to mark the opposing teams' top player. She was a hard-nosed athlete who wasn't afraid to take risks and always motivated her team to its highest potential. Much of the same can be said of her as a basketball player.
"Much like her grandfather, Jen always put the team first," said Amy Meehan, her former coach and current Drury principal. "This was especially true in
In regards to track, Blue Devils boys' coach Jim Buffoni couldn't be happier to have his former star by his side this season. Buffoni and Allard worked well together during her days at Drury. Her leadership and hard work are something Buffoni thinks will help her this year.
"She brings so much energy to the program," he said. "She's a hard worker and her work ethic is outstanding. She is going to be a big help this year".
Yes, Allard made her mark at Drury High School in a multitude of ways. Any coach she ever played for can attest to that. However, her grandfather and former athletic director, Herb Johnson, probably had an even bigger influence on the athletic programs at the school. Johnson served first as the track and field coach then as the school's athletic director beginning in 1959.
Throughout the following decades, Johnson had an immense impact on so many students and athletes throughout his tenure in both positions. Meehan, who did extensive research on the subject of athletics in North Adams as part of her master's thesis, wrote a paper titled "Devil Inside: The Folklore of High School Sports in North Adams". Johnson was included as a part of this history.
In her thesis, Meehan wrote, "Herb was a product of John Del Negro, and was shaped by his 'tough love/coaching' philosophy. During this time, coaches such as Del Negro were viewed as a father figure, and those who played sports and their parents respected and revered the coaches often the mentality of "what the coach says goes!" Coach Johnson brought these lessons of discipline from his family and from his years in high school and college athletics and applied them as a coach himself and as an athletic director".
"Coach Johnson was a teacher who demanded respect and was a tough, but fair, disciplinarian," current Drury A.D. John Franzoni said. "He is a no nonsense individual who believes in the value of athletics to a student's education. Coach Johnson is a key figure in the Drury athletic program and he maintains his interest in Drury athletics during his retirement. The addition of his granddaughter, Jennifer Allard, to the Drury coaching staff is a big plus and our student-athletes will benefit from her involvement with the track program".
Johnson couldn't be more proud of his granddaughter -- as a former athlete, current teacher and coach.
"I'm so proud she'll be coaching track," he said. "I'm glad the passion is staying in the family."
All of Allard's past energy, passion and dedication will serve her well as a varsity coach. And it is her background and family support that has had a huge impact on the student-athlete she was and the coach she will be in the future.
"She is a wonderful role model to young girls today, and like her grandfather, she is well-versed in what it takes to be a great coach," Meehan said. "(She) won't take any grief from anyone and will never back down from a challenge -- all valuable lessons I know Herb Johnson helped teach her."
Hopefully Allard will use these many lessons her grandfather taught to so many as she begins her career at Drury.
"My grandfather has a strong enthusiasm for track, so it's nice to be able to keep it in the family," Allard said.
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