Last modified: Saturday, July 19, 2008 1:13 AM EDT McGrath new Randolph AD BY PETER GOBIS SUN CHRONICLE STAFF MANSFIELD - After seven seasons of serving as the varsity ice hockey coach at Mansfield High School, Mike McGrath has resigned that post to become the new Director of Athletics at Randolph High School. "Throughout the last seven years I have had the pleasure of working with the Mansfield High hockey program - it has been an experience I will remember for a lifetime," said McGrath. "It has been an unbelievably rewarding experience, but this was a position and an opportunity that I could not pass up." McGrath was named the head coach at Mansfield High for the 2001-02 season. "Along the way I have met many, many great people associated with the town and the athletic program at Mansfield High and have had the opportunity to coach with some tremendous people as well," added McGrath. "The memories I have will always be of the kids that worked so hard to make the MHS hockey program one of the up and coming programs in the state. "I am pretty confident I could go through each and every roster of the past seven years and talk about each player and what they brought to our team." This past winter, the Hornets may have had their best season ever, compiling a 15-4-1 regular-season record, earning at No. 5 seed for the MIAA Division 2-South Sectional Tournament and advancing to the quarterfinals. "We had some great years, but as I always say you cannot measure success by wins and losses alone," said McGrath. "The success we have achieved reaches throughout this entire program. "Our athletic director (Margaret Conaty) was very supportive in what we were trying to accomplish," he continued. "Our booster organization provided for our players and team things we could only hope for back seven years ago. Our coaches have been so dedicated in the building of this program. "Our parents never wavered in their support and most importantly each year brought with it a new group of players ready to make their mark on this program. It is amazing just how fast and how solid the Mansfield High School hockey program has become and I think this is something we can all be proud of. I wish this program nothing but the best." The Athletic Directorship is a part-time position, "but I've been looking to become an AD for a few years," said McGrath, who has already settled into his new position. Randolph High is a member of the Patriot League, a conference composed of 10 schools with both a large- and small-school division. At the moment, Randolph does not field varsity teams in field hockey, ice hockey and lacrosse, "but that's something of an initiative of mine, to add sports," said McGrath. Randolph has had some budgetary issues with the financing of an athletic program at Randolph High and recently re-instituted a number of junior varsity sports. McGrath learned of the vacant position during the spring and applied in May. He underwent a round of three interviews with a search committee and was appointed to the post in early July. "Right now, I'm hoping that the position transforms itself into a full-time position," said McGrath. "I've been in coaching for 18 years and I've met and worked for a lot of different athletic directors." In addition to coaching the boys' hockey team at Mansfield High, McGrath also coached at Natick High and Weston High. "Becoming an AD, I love being around the school," said McGrath of his immersion into the Randolph athletic community. "It seemed like a position that I could excel in."