AYER – There will be a changing of the guard at Ayer-Shirley Regional High School this winter.
Athletic Director Steve Kendall recently confirmed with the Ayer-Shirley Tracker that Edwin “Dallas” Nealy has been named the next varsity girls’ basketball head coach at 141 Washington Street.
“We are excited to have Dallas and his staff here at Ayer-Shirley. He has been a big part of our program for the past five years and has done a great job working with the youth basketball program here in our community,” said Kendall during a recent interview. “As a graduate of Ayer High School, he understands the communities and the importance of the Recreation programs here.”
Nealy replaces Corey Phillips, who resigned during the offseason after three seasons at the helm. Phillips accepted the girls’ basketball head coaching position at Advanced Math and Science Academy in Marlborough earlier this month.
When reached for comment, Nealy shared his appreciation and excitement to take over the Panthers program.
“I am so thrilled to become the new head coach of the varsity squad at Ayer-Shirley High School. It’s been a goal of mine for a while,” said Nealy, who spent the previous five years coaching the Ayer-Shirley Regional Middle School girls’ basketball team. “I’m looking forward to creating an open and honest atmosphere for all. I can’t wait to get started.”
Nealy, who works in the Fitchburg Public School system, led the Ayer-Shirley Middle School team to a 14-1 season last year.
“He has been involved in the summer camp the last three years,” said Kendall. “We feel he will be a great fit for the culture of the program moving forward.”
Assisting Nealy this winter will be junior varsity head coach Brian Cieplicki. Replacing Nealy as the Ayer-Shirley Middle School head coach will be Paige Newsham, who is a coworker with Nealy at Memorial Middle School in Fitchburg.
The high school winter sports season in Massachusetts officially opens on Monday, December 2. Nealy and his Panthers squad will open the 2024-2025 campaign on Friday, December 13 when the team travels to the St. Bernard’s Activity Center in Fitchburg to play Lunenburg in the Bud Tackett Memorial Tournament. Two days later, the Panthers return to the Activity Center to play either host St. Bernard’s or Monty Tech.
In other Ayer-Shirley news over the weekend, the Panthers football team dropped a tough 20-18 decision to neighboring rival Lunenburg on Saturday. With the victory Lunenburg improved to 3-7 overall. Two of Lunenburg’s victories this season came against Ayer-Shirley as Lunenburg defeated the Panthers 22-16 back on October 4 in Lunenburg.
The Blue Knights will travel to South Ashburnham to visit Oakmont Regional to end its season on Thanksgiving morning with a clash against the Spartans. Kickoff is scheduled for 10am.
As for Ayer-Shirley, it is also 3-7 overall and will conclude its season Turkey Day when it hosts the Tigers of Littleton High School with kickoff is slated for 10am.
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