WORCESTER—When Mark Doherty’s oldest son began playing soccer at age three, he knew one thing for certain—he couldn’t just sit on the sidelines and watch as a spectator. He wanted to coach. He had to coach.
Nine years and several youth teams later, Doherty is one of the most respected and requested coaches in the Worcester Youth Soccer League (WYSL). In November, he was recognized as the state’s Boys Coach of the Year by the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (MYSA).
“I was really excited about it,” said Doherty, who guided his U10 and U12 boys competitive travel teams to two straight undefeated regular seasons in the spring of 2024 and 2025.
A core group of players on those teams have been with Doherty and his assistant coach Jarrett Allebach since their earliest days in recreational youth soccer. The U12 WYSL travel team advanced to the prestigious Massachusetts Tournament of Champions (MTOC) last spring.
Doherty is a resident of Worcester and works as a behavior specialist at the Fannie E. Proctor Elementary School in Northborough. A native of Wayland and a graduate of Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, he has been in special education for 20 years.
In addition to soccer, he also coaches flag football for the Worcester WooSaders as well as youth basketball at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Hamilton Street. Doherty’s afternoons, nights and weekends are often jam packed with practices and games, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
The close relationships he has formed with his players and their families have been the best part of coaching for him.
“I’ve met so many great people and families through coaching,” said Doherty. “I like working with kids. It’s what I do for a living. It’s what I’m good at.”
It’s clear that the parents of his players also think he’s pretty good at coaching too. A group of those families got together after the spring season to nominate Doherty for the statewide MYSA award. In describing Doherty’s impact as a coach, they had a lot to say.
“Coach Mark Doherty is a phenomenal coach,” read one of Doherty’s nominations. “He’s so kind and understanding. He puts his all into coaching our children and building them up.”
“Mark is dedicated to not only coaching his team on skills but also providing them with guidance and support beyond the field,” read another submitted nomination.
Doherty is a gifted teacher both in the school building and on the soccer field. His students in Northborough and his youth athletes in Worcester are fortunate to have someone like him helping them grow towards adulthood.
Mike Vigneux is a freelance writer in Worcester with more than 20 years of experience in the fields of municipal government, communications, and public relations. An avid fan of all sports, Mike enjoys telling the stories of local athletes and their teams. He holds two degrees from Clark University, a bachelor of arts in Communication and a master of science in Professional Communication. He can be reached at Mikevigs@gmail.com
