Perrone, Ken
Ken Perrone was the Salem High School football coach from the years 1973 until 1994.
A Connecticut native, Perrone coached high school football in Maine for 13 years before coming to coach at Salem High School in 1973. During the teachers' strike of 1994, Perrone went against the orders of his principal and had his team play during the strike. Salem played Swampscott and won the game. After the strike was over, Perrone and his assistants were fired from their coaching positions. Ken Perrone has been kept out of the Salem High School Hall of Fame because of this infraction.
Perrone had one of the best coacheing records on the North Shore. He coached 59 baseball seasons and 37 football seasons (22 at Salem High School). His football and baseball teams have 49 championships, six state titles, a New England championship and six undefeated seasons.
Perron will retire from coaching in 2012, after many years as baseball coach at Salem State University. One of the highlights at Salem State for Perrone was in 2006 when the Vikings won the MASCAC championship, the leagues playoff title and an NCAA Division 3 tournament victory. Perrone has completed 30 years of coaching at the High School and College level.
In 2011, the Salem School Committee has decided to revisit the by-laws for the athletic Hall of Fame. Janet Crane, subcommittee chairperson, along with the three school board members voted to set up an independent committee to draft bylaws for the Salem High Hall of Fame, something it lacks. The outcome of these changes may alter the status of Perrone's induction to the Hall of Fame.
See Also
Vertical File in Salem Collection- Perrone, Ken
Vertical File in Salem Collection- Salem High School Football (subfolder Ken Perrone)
"Clashes of the Titans: Salem's Perrone the big winner in head-to-head match-ups" Salem News, Sept. 4, 2010, p. 9
"The Master from Maine: Perrone restored pride, became one of Salem's greats" Salem News, Aug. 23, 2010, p. 9
"Perrone and Salem Hall of Fame: (letters to the editor)" Salem News, Aug. 27, 2011, p. 5
"'94 Strike is catalyst in dispute: meeting will discuss Perrone and the Hall of Fame controversy" Salem News, Sept. 26, 2011, p. 1
"A Hall of Fame meeting without the coach in question" Salem News, Sept. 27, 2011, p. 1
"Perrone to retire as Salem State baseball coach" Salem News, Feb. 15, 2012, p. 8
"Perrone honored; Salem State hosts retirement party for coach" Salem News, Apr. 23, 2012, p. 9
"Perrone ending a stellar career" Boston Globe, Apr. 26, 2012, p. N 4
"Perrone finally gets the call: he's going in Salem High Hall of Fame" Salem News, Apr. 4, 2013
"Our view: A long-overdue honor for Perrone" Salem News, Apr. 8, 2013
