GORHAM — Jamal Chatman was appointed Gorham High head football coach, replacing Dave Kilborn, who stepped down last season after 14 years.

Chatman, 39, has been an assistant coach at Greely High for the past three seasons. Before that, he was an assistant coach at Gray-New Gloucester for two seasons.

Chatman, a native of Houston, lives in Gorham.

“I’ve always wanted to be a head coach,” said Chatman, who works at the Bay Club in Portland.

“I saw the opening, talked to my coach (Greely head coach Dave Higgins) and told him I was interested. It worked out,” he said.

Chatman coached the receivers and defensive backs at Greely, but also helped out with the quarterbacks and running backs.

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“Jamal told me he was looking to become a head coach so I’m happy for him. It’s a great opportunity,” said Higgins.

“He was a huge asset to our staff. We’re really going to miss him. The players really liked him. He’s a good communicator.”

Chatman, a wide receiver at Texas Southern University in Houston where he was a three-year starter and captain his senior year, plans to run a form of the option attack with variations.

Chatman said he plans to meet with his team soon and also begin the process of selecting a coaching staff.

Gorham was 4-4 last season.

“Jamal has a passion for football and developing young men that will help him be successful,” said Gorham Athletic Director Tim Spear.

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“He is very familiar with our program and I look for him to continue the success that the Gorham football program has seen over the past 10 years.”

Chatman has lived in Maine for the past 12 years.

After college, he looked to continue his playing career and ended up playing for the Maine Blizzard and the Maine Raging Bulls as a defensive back.

“My last season was 2006. I played for as long as my knees allowed me to,” he said.

At Texas Southern University, Chatman was a teammate of Michael Strahan, the former New York Giants’ all-pro defensive end.

“Michael was a year ahead of me,” said Chatman.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at: tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 


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