Mar 5, 2010
Michael Sheehan, who coached Cardinal Gibbons through the most successful three-year period of the school’s football renaissance, informed his student-athletes of his decision to relinquish the program’s reins Friday. Sheehan, an eighth-year English instructor at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh’s lone high school, will continue his faculty service.
To assess the “state of the program” as strong, Cardinal Gibbons athletics director Dean Monroe said, would be beyond an understatement. Sheehan, who served as an assistant coach during his first five years on the Edwards Mill Road campus, completed his first season (2007) as head coach with a 2-9 record. His teams improved by five games in 2008 and 2009, posting 7-6 and 12-2 records, respectively.
“I want to be clear that we have been and will continue moving in the right direction,” Monroe said. “Mike’s contributions have been indispensable to charting the program’s course, laying its foundation for perpetual success, and providing a blueprint for a multifaceted vision for the future.”
Cardinal Gibbons, in its fifth year as a member of the N.C. High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA), made its inaugural appearance in the NCHSAA football playoffs in 2008. The school, competing in the 2AA classification, claimed a first round win at Ledford (28-6 on Nov. 14).
The firsts continued in 2009, when Cardinal Gibbons won its first home opener (20-7 vs. Clayton on Aug. 21) in its newly dedicated stadium. Cardinal Gibbons, now competing at the 3A level, swept its five-game Carolina Six Conference schedule to secure the school’s first conference championship in the sport.
The league title afforded Cardinal Gibbons the privilege to host its first NCHSAA playoff contest on Nov. 14, when Cardinal Gibbons defeated Currituck 47-0. Cardinal Gibbons extended its program best winning streak to 10 games on Nov. 20 with its 21-15 second round home win versus Carson (China Grove). A week later, Cardinal Gibbons’ season ended in the state quarterfinals against eventual state runner-up Eastern Alamance.
“The most gratifying aspect of these accomplishments is they were achieved within the proliferation of the school’s mission,” Monroe said. “Mike embraces his roles and responsibilities for the formation of men and women of faith, service and leadership in church and community. The diverse contributions of our football program participants throughout our school community are vital elements of our school’s culture.”
Sheehan garnered multiple accolades following the 2009 campaign, including the Carolina Six Conference Coach of the Year and HighSchoolOT.com Coach of the Year honors.
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