The Canton High football team has named a new head coach.
On Friday, Feb. 6, the school’s athletic department announced that Jeff Eckler, formerly the team’s interim head coach, will stay on. He took over for the Bulldogs’ final eight games of last season.
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Eckler resumed the job of ex-coach Anthony Fallon, who was not brought back following a midseason arrest that stemmed from an altercation with his neighbor at his home in Millis in late September. After coaching the first four games, Fallon was put on administrative leave and not retained despite being ruled not guilty of assault in court in December.
Canton (8-3) went on finish with 35-6 defeat to Tewksbury in the Division 2 semifinals and a 25-18 victory over Stoughton on Thanksgiving.
Canton coach Jeff Eckler speaks to the players following a loss to Tewksbury in the Division 4 semifinals at Manning Field in Lynn on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.
Eckler, a 1991 Canton High grad, is a longtime physical education teacher at nearby Galvin Middle School. He was formerly on staff from 1994-01 under labels of freshmen coach, quarterbacks coach, secondary coach and defensive coordinator before serving as the defensive coordinator at both Oliver Ames and Milton High.
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Eckler then returned to Canton in 2011 under former coach Dave Bohane and stayed when Fallon was hired as head coach in 2020.
“I’m very excited to lead the CHS football program and continue to coach in the community that I love,” Eckler said in a press release from the school’s athletic department. “Looking forward to a year of growth, teamwork and success.”
“Jeff bleeds Bulldog Football,” athletic director Danny Erickson wrote in the press release. “I have had the pleasure of working with him for the past 15 years. During that time, he has grown into a true master coach. The combination of being a phenomenal football mind, a great, caring person, and someone who truly appreciates the tradition of Canton Football, really makes Jeff the perfect choice to be our next coach.”
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Jeff Eckler named new Canton football coach
