For Bryce Guilbeault, a lifelong interest in football has brought him from being water boy to coaching like his father.  Last week, after three years as assistant coach, he took on the head coach role at Old Rochester Regional High School.

A New Bedford native, Guilbeault played both at Bishop Stang (where he also played hockey and baseball), and at Framingham State, where he served as captain of the team. He grew up around football, as his father has also coached for 40 years. 

Life after college included a job at Labonte Insurance in Fairhaven, and a house that Guilbeault bought in Acushnet. 

However, even outside of the football team he has a tri-town connection: he bartends a few nights a week at Brew Fish.

Guilbeault coached hockey for six years, but wanted to get back into football.

“Once your playing days are over, the only way to be competitive [in football] is to coach,” he explained, adding that “I’m excited to be head coach. And grateful.”

Coaching isn’t a full-time job, but his other jobs at Labonte and Brew Fish allow him the flexibility to be able to coach.

“All of my bosses are great. They’re flexible and passionate about sports. I’m really fortunate in that regard,” Guilbeault said.

He thinks highly of tri-town students and athletes, and enjoys working with them.

“Coach Kogler did a tremendous job. The kids are very coachable and they listen. It makes showing up every day easy,” Guilbeault said.

While he intends to put his own touch on the program, he is also glad to have the same staff coming back.

His focus this year will be on making “the transition as smooth as possible. We lost a lot of great players, but we have a lot coming back,” he said.

He also wants “be sure that he players are doing the right thing, on and off the field.” To that end, he has already started checking on his players’ grades.

Other off-season duties include off-season lifting, a summer camp and other administrative work. 

It makes the job a year-long commitment, but Guilbeault is glad to do it.