It was eight years ago that Gabe DeSouza arrived in North Andover, bringing title game experience and a championship mentality to the Scarlet Knights on the football field.
Now, he will look to do the same from the sidelines.
The former Eagle-Tribune All-Star receiver/defensive back has returned to the North Andover High football program he helped lead to its first ever state championship in 2018 — as an assistant coach.
“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity,” said DeSouza. “North Andover football welcomed me during a pivotal time in my life, and the support I received from this program shaped the person I am today. Coming back to give back to the same community that gave so much to me — it’s a full-circle moment I don’t take for granted.”
DeSouza joins the Scarlet Knights as wide receivers and kickers coach under new head coach Matt Cerullo, his former defensive backs coach.
“When coach Cerullo became head coach, he told me he wanted me to be his first hire — and that meant the world to me,” said DeSouza. “He was my DB coach my senior year, and that season changed everything. He brought a different kind of leadership that shifted the culture of the entire program. He’s intense, but it’s real. He holds everyone accountable, but he does it with heart.”
DeSouza certainly knows success on the field.
He won the Division 1 state title with Everett High in 2016, before transferring to North Andover High the following fall. In two seasons as a Scarlet Knight, the two-time All-Scholastic caught 86 passes for 1,650 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading the Knights to the 2017 Division 2 semifinals and the 2018 Division 2 title. He then went on the star at Curry College (142 catches, 1,732 yard, 25 TDs in 27 games).
Until recently, however, he had no plans to pursue coaching.
DeSouza earned a master’s degree in mental health counseling from Boston University, graduating this spring, and was hired as a mental health therapist at Ellie Mental Health in Andover.
“Coaching wasn’t always the plan, but the timing couldn’t have been more aligned,” he said. “As I pursued my master’s at BU, and became immersed in the mental health field, I realized just how much I wanted to bridge those two worlds. The idea of applying what I’ve learned about mental performance and emotional development to the game of football — that’s what sparked the passion.”
He also couldn’t pass up the chance to work with Cerullo, as he replaces another one of DeSouza’s mentors, longtime Scarlet Knight head coach John Dubzinski, who stepped down following the 2024 season to spend more time with his family.
“(Cerullo) saw something in me not just as a player, but as someone who could help lead and develop the next generation,” said DeSouza, who also works with Cerullo at Pact Performance training. “Being on staff with him, I get to learn from one of the most loyal, driven, and community-focused people I know. He builds trust, he demands excellence, and he teaches you how to lead with both toughness and compassion.”
And DeSouza knows it will be a special feeling when he steps onto the field at North Andover’s Walsh Stadium as a Scarlet Knight once again.
“It’ll definitely be nostalgic,” he said. “But more than anything, I know I’ll be surrounded by passionate, committed people who care deeply about the growth of these kids, the strength of this program, and the impact it has on our community. There’s no better place to be.”
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