Grafton High School Introduces New Athletic Director Marcus Backlund

GRAFTON -- Marcus Backlund was welcomed as Grafton's new athletic director at the Oct. 21 School Committee meeting, after spending recent weeks splitting time between his new post and his previous job at Tantasqua Regional.

HIGH SCHOOL -- School Committee members formally introduced Backlund, who came to Grafton from Tantasqua Regional and previously served as an athletic trainer at Auburn. Committee members said Backlund had effectively been working "two jobs" during the transition period before taking on the athletic director role full time. Backlund thanked outgoing staff, including Jim Pignataro and Julie Flynn, for easing the handover, and told the committee he has been getting to know Grafton's coaches, students and staff. Committee members said they would invite him back for a fuller program update once he has a season under his belt.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.