LYNN — The time has come for Lynn English alum Travonne Berry-Rogers, as the former two-sport star for the Bulldogs has been hired as the school’s girls basketball coach. Berry-Rogers — who has been an assistant on the girls basketball team for the past three years — takes over for Mackenzie Charles, who was named the Bulldogs’ head football coach back in June.
“It’s been a dream and a goal of mine to come back to English and be a coach where it all started for me,” said Berry-Rogers, who played for the Bulldogs from 2007-11. “I just want to thank the Lynn English administration, Athletic Director Dick Newton, Assistant Principal Gary Molea, my father Doug Rogers, my sister Shardaye and my girlfriend Cassi for all of their love and support as I’ve worked my way to becoming a head coach.”
“Travonne has waited his turn and he’s ready to take over,” said Newton. “He’s an English guy through and through, and we couldn’t be more excited to turn the keys over to him.”
Berry-Rogers has been affiliated with English for much of his life to this point. He was a star two-sport athlete for the Bulldogs, winning four varsity letters in basketball and three varsity letters in football. As a guard on the basketball team, Berry-Rogers helped lead the team to an 80-13 record and a state championship appearance in 2009. He was also a two-time all-star in both sports.
Following his collegiate career at Merrimack College, Berry-Rogers returned to English as a teacher and an assistant coach on the boys basketball team under the late Mike Carr. After three years on the boys side, Berry-Rogers became an assistant coach for the girls team under Charles. He also spent three years as an assistant coach on the Bulldogs’ football team.
One of the key advantages that Berry-Rogers has coming into this job is the fact that he’s been with the program for a few years and has established relationships with the girls on the roster.
“I think being a part of these girls’ development has been a real key,” said Berry-Rogers. “Our goal is to really build a strong, cohesive group and utilize every player we have to the best of their abilities.”
Berry-Rogers is planning to take an up-tempo approach to the game this coming season, and he knows that he has the athletes to execute his preferred style of play.
“We have the players and the talent to play at a fast pace from start to finish,” said Berry-Rogers.
And having seen the English boys basketball team’s successful run over the past several years, Berry-Rogers is eager to show that the girls team is just as capable of having big-time success.
“I was lucky enough to be a part of some really good English teams when I went here, and obviously watching the boys basketball team have success recently makes us want to get to that level as well,” said Berry-Rogers. “Our goal is to show that the girls team can be just as good, but we know that it won’t happen overnight. We’re just going to go out, work hard every day and bring our A-game every night.”