Robert Lomp doesn’t play chess, but after seeing 14 straight wins as head coach for the Apponequet Lakers, it’s clear he’s got a head for strategy – and he is bringing that head to Wareham.

The former Apponequet Regional High School math teacher will be replacing Wareham High School teacher Dan Nault, the Vikings football coach of 22 years.

Lomp started his coaching career as a freshman coach for the Lakers in 1996, followed by assistant coach for the team for four years. He said he resigned from coaching and teaching last year for a job change, and planned to stay out of coaching for up to three years. But after almost no time at all, he realized he missed the field.

“I could only go to half of one game, because it was so emotional for me,” Lomp said. “I couldn’t even go to the Thanksgiving Day game.”

Lomp said he loves “everything about football,” but perhaps the best part for him is to watch the young people he coaches grow up.

“Some of the friends and people I work with today are the guys I coached,” Lomp said. “I get to see the developmental process of the guys.”

Coaching also jives well with Lomp’s mathematically-inclined brain.

“I like the grind of it – the daily practices, game planning – everything,” Lomp said. “The whole thing suits me well. I like to strategize and organize.”

In his own teenage years, Lomp played for Middleboro as a quarterback and defensive back. But playing football and coaching it are two separate things, he has found. Whereas a football player may only pay attention to his own job, or his own job and a few other positions’ jobs, a coach has to keep track of everything and everyone.

“Every phase of the game is constantly on your mind, and the roster is on your mind,” Lomp said. “There is so much more mental strain to the math side of it.”

It is “too early to say” what Lomp plans to do with the Wareham team – he only just landed the job yesterday – but he plans to work with the system the school has in place, and help the players grow within it.

“I will just adjust, as I always do,” he said.

High school Principal Scott Palladino said he and Rodrigues are "excited" for Lomp to join the team, citing his "proven track record."

"Bob had great ideas, and evidence of what he has done in the past that has worked," Lomp said. "We are extremely excited for this next chapter in Wareham High School football."