Special education teacher Paul Connolly, the head coach of boys’ basketball, was named the Boston Globe Division I Coach of the Year. “I wouldn’t be Coach of the Year if it wasn’t for tremendous players, excellent assistant coaches, and the best managers,” said Connolly.

North, 21-6, won the MIAA South Division I Championship for the first time in 13 years before falling to Lynn in the State Semifinals. Despite losing three starters from the past season, Connolly said that the team “came into the season this year with the same expectations.”

Senior Christian Negrotti, a captain with senior Ezra Pemstein, held high praise for Connolly. “He is one of the best coaches I have ever had,” said Negrotti. “He had a scheme for our team, and we practiced it every day, and we executed it in games.”

Connolly gave the seniors credit for his accomplishment. “They really did a great job of continuing to play at a high level,” he said.

He added that assistant coaches Tom Donnellan and Rob Greenfield were “deserving of Assistant Coaches of the year” for their efforts this past season.