IT'S ALWAYS been about commitment for boys' basketball coach Mike Fitzpatrick, and it's never been a one-way street.

After his fourth season at Manchester Memorial High, Fitzpatrick said, the commitment from his players had waned and it was time to move on.

It didn't take him long to arrive at his next destination.

Fitzpatrick recently became head coach at Bedford High, which is moving up to Division I this year.

“Everything happens for a reason, and I'm happy to be in Bedford,” said Fitzpatrick. “I like the challenge of taking a program that's entering its first season in Division I. They've got good talent, and it's going to be fun coaching those players.”

Fitzpatrick said fun turned into frustration at Memorial.

This summer, many Memorial players didn't show up for the BST Summer League games. Fitzpatrick expected his players to be there, but when many chose to play AAU ball instead, the coach decided it was time for him to leave.

“We didn't have a great turn-out for the summer league, and the commitment I was looking for just wasn't there anymore,” Fitzpatrick said. “There's a commitment in place to work hard during the offseason, particularly during the summer and fall leading into the new high school season. I expected my players to be at the summer league games. I can understand a kid not showing up if he's a multi-sport athlete playing a sport in the summer or fall. But that wasn't the case (with Memorial), and if I didn't get the job at Bedford, I wasn't planning on going back to coach at Memorial.”

Nevertheless, he added, overall his experience at Memorial was positive.

“People who know me know I mean it when I say I enjoyed my four years at Memorial,” he said. “Starting with (principal) Arthur Adamakos, (athletics coordinator) Jack (Quirk), (city athletics director) Dave Gosselin and all the way down to the players, current and past, they were all wonderful to work with at Memorial.”

Fitzpatrick's tenure at Memorial produced four winning seasons. In his first season, he led the Crusaders to the state final in Durham, where they lost to city rival Trinity. The next three seasons, they qualified for the quarterfinals, which last season produced a memorable down-to-the-wire finish in a loss to rival Central.

It was at Central where Fitzpatrick got his head coaching start (1991-2000), leading the Little Green to two state titles, in 1996 and 2000. He coached at Nashua North (2004-06) before moving on to Trinity (2007-08) as an assistant coach under Dave Keefe.

Former Manchester High West head coach Colin Burke, who was the varsity assistant coach at Memorial the last four seasons, will join Fitzpatrick in the same capacity at Bedford.

“We're going to miss Fitzy,” said Gosselin. “He's been a winner at every program he's coached, and his passion for the game is second to none. He did a great job at Memorial, and the program is certainly going in the right direction because of him.”

Fitzpatrick replaces John Langlois, who stepped down at Bedford to take over the program at Campbell High of Litchfield.

The pick here to replace Fitzpatrick is Quirk, who in addition to being Memorial's athletics coordinator also serves as girls' basketball head coach. Previously Memorial's boys' basketball head coach, Quirk said he's interested in returning to that post.

“It's something I'm really considering,” he said.

When the job was last vacant, four years ago, Quirk decided he didn't want to leave the girls' program.

“I had some unfinished business at the time, and I just felt I had to get the girls to a different level,” said Quirk. “Since that time, I've been pretty satisfied from where we were to where we are now. The last two seasons we made it to the semifinals, and we came within an overtime period last year of reaching the state finals. Now I feel there's not much more I have to prove to myself with regards to the girls' program. So, yeah, I am considering the boys' position.”

Quirk was an assistant coach under Peter Poirier for 12 seasons at Memorial before becoming head coach in 1983 and remaining in the position for nine seasons. He left to coach the men's program at Hesser College before returning to Memorial to coach the girls' team.

Now, at age 61, Quirk has a chance to come full circle by returning to the boys' program at Memorial.

Adamakos will consult with Gosselin, district superintendent Thomas Brennan and athletics committee chairman David Wihby to decide who gets nominated for the job.

“Anyone who puts in for the position is going to get a fair shake,” said Gosselin. “If Jack puts his name in, there's no question in my mind he knows the game. His knowledge of the game will never be questioned. He's coached the game forever and has done it well, with a great deal of passion.”

Fitzpatrick said he didn't leave the cupboard bare at Memorial. Returning this winter will be Zoubel Iradakunda, Tong Akot, Joel Mayola, Oumaru Kante and Kabongo Ngalakulondi.

“It's a good group of kids,” said Fitzpatrick. “They can win if they keep it together.”

Other likely candidates for the job will be former Memorial junior varsity basketball coach and current baseball head coach Aaron Abood, and current Memorial JV coach Sudi Lett.

But the clear choice here is Quirk.

- - - - - - -

THE Millennium Running Series this morning takes over the roads surrounding Lake Massabesic in Auburn and Manchester, with a capacity field of 400 participating in the second annual N.H. 10 Miler.

One of seven events in the series, the race starts and finishes at the Lake Massabesic parking lot, near the traffic circle off Route 101 Exit 1. The gun sounds at 9 a.m.

The field includes participants planning to run the entire 10 miles and tandem teams splitting the distance.

Two events in the series remain after today, both in Manchester: the Fisher Cats Thanksgiving Day 5K, beginning and ending at Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, and the Santa Claus Shuffle on Dec. 1.

- - - - - - -

ONE WEEK from tomorrow, the Prouty Alliance Against Cancer 5K returns to Manchester's Millyard for its fifth annual running.

Though not part of the Millennium Running Series, the race is now under the direction of the company headed by former Londonderry High and University of Michigan All-American John Mortimer.

The race starts at 9 a.m., with a course beginning and ending at Arms Park.

“We're bringing the latest in technical support to the race,” said organizer Christine Pariseau-Telge. “It's a great course for runners and walkers. We've raised over $35,000 for local cancer patients.”

Proceeds benefit Dartmouth-Hitchcock's Norris Cotton Cancer Center.

“Our event focus has always been to recognize and honor those that have been affected by cancer,” said Pariseau-Telge. “It's a disease that affects the entire family, and this is a way for everyone to fight back together.”

Bedford's Jason Porter, a cancer survivor and the course record-holder, is expected to defend his title.

“This race is for the entire family,” said Pariseau-Telge. “There are prizes for all types of finishers, all types of ages and abilities. Manchester's Millyard businesses have come out in full support of our cause. They'll have tents with information set up in Arms Park. We'll have live music and an awards presentation after our kids race with (mascots) Max from the Monarchs and the CHaD-a-saurus (representing Children's Hospital at Dartmouth).

To volunteer, register or donate money, visit the website at allianceagainstcancer5k.org.

- - - - - - -

WHEN Southern New Hampshire hosts state and conference rival Franklin Pierce University in a women's soccer contest Monday, there's a chance the game will feature senior SNHU goalie Maggie Weldon against her younger sister and, freshman FPU keeper Katie Weldon, a fellow Manchester West graduate.

“I'm not sure if Katie is playing because (the Ravens) have three goalies, but it would be interesting if she got the start,” said Maggie, three years older than her sister. “I know my mom will be nervous, but I told my parents they better be rooting for me. My sister has three more years after I'm done playing this season. That's when she can get all their support.”

At West, Maggie said, Katie played sweeper in front of her. Their relationship remains close.

“I'm extremely proud of my sister, and we always text each other to see how we're doing,” Maggie said.

- - - - - - -

.

“City Sports” appears Saturdays in the New Hampshire Union Leader. Email staff reporter John Habib at jhabib@unionleader.com./i