SEEKONK - A few years ago, former Seekonk High head football coach Dave Morgado and his assistants, including Jack Whalen, were reviewing game film and wondering just how they could reverse the fortunes of the Warrior football program.

"I mean, I was thinking what did I do? It was no fun getting your butt kicked every weekend," said Whalen, who has become the new head football coach at Seekonk High, succeeding Morgado, who has taken reign of the Durfee High program.

A graduate from Warren, R.I. High School and Roger Williams University, Whalen has been coaching football at various levels since 1979, having most recently served with the Seekonk High program for the past five years.

Since critically analyzing that game film of the Warriors, Whalen has seen the Seekonk High program take root at the school, in the community and at the youth football level.

Football is alive and well at Seekonk High after the Warriors ran through the SCC, winning the first conference championship for the school since 1987, completing the regular season unbeaten at 10-0 and earning the school its first MIAA Division 2-A Super Bowl playoff appearance (against Hingham).

In truth, Seekonk won nearly as many games (10) during the 2007 as the Warriors did (12) during their previous five seasons. "What I see now is a reflection of what the kids have put into the program," said Whalen, who was appointed to the position this week. "A few years ago, you wouldn't want to be a Warrior. I'm big about tradition and I hope that we can continue to build upon what we accomplished last season."

Whalen served as the freshman football coach at Seekonk High during his first two seasons around Connolly Field, the Warriors compiling a 20-1 record over that span. Over the past three seasons, Whalen has worn a variety of coaching hats, with the junior varsity program, being the eyes above the field in the press box and serving as a de facto offensive coordinator.

"What I see now is a commitment to Seekonk High football, not just at the school," said Whalen. "The youth football program changed its name to the Junior Warriors. They changed their uniforms to the school colors. They changed the playbook, now they run the same plays that we run at the high school.

"I have had a great relationship with the kids during my time at Seekonk and I expect that to continue."

Seekonk High Athletic Director Ray Grant nominated and approved the selection of Whalen as the new head football coach after a review of "a decent (size-wise) applicant pool. We had some really good candidates, a good quality."

Whalen played high school football in Warren under legendary Rhode Island coach Pat Abbruzzi and later served as an assistant under another legend, Foxy Marshall at Portsmouth (R.I.) High School.

Whalen made his way to Seekonk after coming into contact with Morgado at various coaching clinics and his affiliation with the South Coast Conference. Morgado coached under Dighton-Rehoboth High coach Dave Driscoll and Whalen's son attended D-R.

"Dave (Morgado) went to Apponequet High and had success there and when he took over the Seekonk program, a year later he asked me if I'd like to help out," recalled Whalen. "After a few years, Dave gave me more to do."

Now Whalen has to fill out his coaching staff and look forward to off-season training for his incumbents, in fact most of the returnees are at the skill positions. Developing the offensive and defensive lines and depth will be a priority. "One of the things that I do well is relate to the kids and bring a lot of enthusiasm," said Whalen. "But kudos to the kids. Three years ago, they bought into what we were trying to do with the program, to build it up. They did a fabulous job.

"That's what was missing. We're becoming more of a program, the kids around the school, the kids in the youth program are buying into it."