![Wayland High School Class of 2019 alum Devin Wong is the new assistant coach of Harvard University Nordic Ski Team. "I’m excited to be a part of a new team and coaching staff am motivated to learn from [head coach] Cate Brams and grow as a coach and wax tech," Wong said.](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/09-27-24-NSKI-Wong-Announcement-1920x1080-1-e1730466291327-1200x704.jpg)
44 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot dead on a balcony in Memphis, Tennessee. 44 years ago, Elvis Presley recorded his ’68 Comeback Special. 44 years ago, Joe Porrell started teaching at Wayland High School.
Porrell originally went to Wayland High School as a student when the school was located in Wayland’s Town Building.
“It was pretty crowded,” said Porrell. “There was one school for all the people. It was grades six-twelve, so you can imagine how intimidating it was to be a sixth grader.”
Porrell was part of the first class to go into the old Wayland High School.
“Everybody from around the country came to look at our school,” Porrell said, “It was a beautiful flying saucer for a Field House. Nobody else had that.”
As a student, Porrell played baseball and basketball.
“I was the smallest kid ever to play in Boston Garden,” Porrell said.
During Porrell’s senior year, his basketball team made the state semi-finals.
“The whole school closed down at 10 and put all the kids on buses and brought them down to the Boston Garden,” Porrell said. “It was a lot of fun.”
After attending Springfield College, where Porrell was an All-American wrestler, he came back to Wayland to coach sports and teach physical education.
Porrell coached the varsity baseball team, bringing them to the state tournament, and then decided to coach varsity basketball. Porrell’s teams were so good that legendary coaches such as Bobby Knight, Rick Pitino and Jim Boeheim all came to Wayland to watch his team play.
Porrell was emotional after leaving the old school behind this past December.
“Its sort of sad, I had a lot of feelings for it,” said Porrell. “I have a lot of great memories in that school. I have been very fortunate to come through this school system here in Wayland.”
As for his future as a teacher at Wayland, Porrell knows his time is almost up.
“Its been a great 44 years. My life has been a great journey. Its been a lot of fun and the kids are great, but I feel like it is getting near the end,” Porrell said.
Porrell knows that next year will definitely be his last at Wayland High School.
“The technology makes things hard,” Porrell said. “I will miss all the kids. I just enjoy having fun and working hard. I come in every day and enjoy every day. I keep myself motivated by trying to inspire kids. I hope I have done a good job.”
![On Thursday Oct. 10, football will face rival Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, aiming to improve their record to 4-1. “[LSRHS] has gotten the best of us over the last couple of years,” Parseghian said. “I feel that this team is willing to correct the last couple of years and, and get a [win]. I want to win a football game.”](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-08-at-12.53.35 PM-1200x801.png)
![A Wayland football player carries the football down the field. “We've cruised through the first three games,” head coach Scott Parseghian said. “[It’s a] combination of us being a good team and also the competition may not be as great as I had hoped.”](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8114-1200x800.jpg)
Susanna Hunter Lavallee • Jan 20, 2022 at 5:23 AM
He coached me at a tender time of growth, puberty and I was SO self-conscious and had zero self-esteem. Coach Porrell was sensitive and helped me laugh at fear, step out of my comfort zone and TRY athletics due to his validation. I always loved his sons, Joe, my age and Jim and so revered his beautiful, beautiful wife I could barely speak to her. I didn’t feel even loveable, yet Coach Porrell gave me moments of self acceptance. Bottom line, he made me feel good and we laughed. I was Sue Krapf. My last name now is Lavallee. Susanna Hunter Lavallee if Joe or Jim or both want to look me up. My deepest condolences to Mrs. Porrell, Jim & Joe’s mom and to them.
Paul • Jun 18, 2014 at 3:23 PM
I'll always remember the great years I had you as a coach playing baseball.
Paul L.
fgfbvc • Jan 27, 2012 at 8:45 PM
He's awesome… and he has done an excellent job… i'm going to miss him next year
Anonymous • Jan 23, 2012 at 9:15 PM
He's such a character
anon • Jan 23, 2012 at 6:58 PM
noooo he cant leave!!!
squish • Jan 23, 2012 at 5:22 PM
great job falber
student • Jan 23, 2012 at 4:35 PM
You have done a good job, we love you Mr. Porrell!