Both Sides of the Line: The Coach and the Mob Enforcer, the Mentor and the Murderer: The True Story of Clyde Dempsey - Hardcover

"Similar to John Feinstein s "A Season on the Brink" and Pat Conroy s "My Losing Season," school administrator Kelly s memoir of his senior season at Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston s powerful Catholic Conference is a fascinating story of the rise of a perennial bottom-feeder to a league championship. Kelly s rags-to-riches account is interspersed with adversity and triumph and centers on Clyde Dempsey, an inspirational but controversial coach whose life and tragic end dominates the book. Dempsey spent time as a mob leg breaker and likewise nine years on the run in Canada after killing a man in a bar fight in 1981. After extradition back to Massachusetts, Dempsey was convicted and sent to prison, where he died in 2001. In 2014, Kelly and his teammates held a reunion, reflecting on their championship season, their current lives, and Dempsey. Throughout the narrative, Dempsey s mantra of coaching shines through: quickness, technique, and desire a straightforward and overall great read, proving that fact is stranger than fiction."--LIBRARY JOURNAL (05/26/2016)"

"This memoir will have strong regional appeal, but the combination of an unusual personal story with plenty of detailed football technique, a close look at the tough-love motivational style of an inner-city coach, and a fascinating true-crime element suggests that it just may reach a much broader national audience, even extending beyond sports fans."--BOOKLIST (05/26/2016)

"High school players in a working class neighborhood of the 1970s gain desperately needed structure and guidance from Jack "Clyde" Dempsey, a scrappy, charismatic coach who seems like nothing more than a football geek. But Coach also happens to be the toughest guy on the streets of Boston, with a temper to match, and it's his secret life as a mob enforcer and collector that forces him to flee the country, becoming one of America's most wanted. "Both Sides of the Line" is the memoir of a devoted Dempsey disciple, who later becomes a dean at a world class private school located outside of Boston, and who tries thirty-five years later to understand his former coach, role model, and mentor (both his good side and his very dark side) and Dempsey's impact on his own life.

A true story, "Both Sides of the Line" is one of those unique memoirs that reads like a deftly crafted novel from beginning to end. An absolutely absorbing and inherently fascinating read, "Both Sides of the Line" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists "--MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW (05/26/2016)"

"This memoir will have strong regional appeal, but the combination of an unusual personal story with plenty of detailed football technique, a close look at the tough-love motivational style of an inner-city coach, and a fascinating true-crime element suggests that it just may reach a much broader national audience, even extending beyond sports fans."

--BOOKLIST (05/26/2016)

"Similar to John Feinstein s A Season on the Brink and Pat Conroy s My Losing Season, school administrator Kelly s memoir of his senior season at Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston s powerful Catholic Conference is a fascinating story of the rise of a perennial bottom-feeder to a league championship. Kelly s rags-to-riches account is interspersed with adversity and triumph and centers on Clyde Dempsey, an inspirational but controversial coach whose life and tragic end dominates the book. Dempsey spent time as a mob leg breaker and likewise nine years on the run in Canada after killing a man in a bar fight in 1981. After extradition back to Massachusetts, Dempsey was convicted and sent to prison, where he died in 2001. In 2014, Kelly and his teammates held a reunion, reflecting on their championship season, their current lives, and Dempsey. Throughout the narrative, Dempsey s mantra of coaching shines through: quickness, technique, and desire a straightforward and overall great read, proving that fact is stranger than fiction."

--LIBRARY JOURNAL (05/26/2016)"

"Great new book and helluva fascinating story!"

--Howie Carr, radio talk show host

While a nice, inspirational story, what sets it apart is the exploration of a darker side to the coach that author Kevin Kelly, who played for Dempsey, reveals in Both Sides of the Line.

--THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR (09/23/2016)

"High school players in a working class neighborhood of the 1970s gain desperately needed structure and guidance from Jack "Clyde" Dempsey, a scrappy, charismatic coach who seems like nothing more than a football geek. But Coach also happens to be the toughest guy on the streets of Boston, with a temper to match, and it's his secret life as a mob enforcer and collector that forces him to flee the country, becoming one of America's most wanted. Both Sides of the Line is the memoir of a devoted Dempsey disciple, who later becomes a dean at a world class private school located outside of Boston, and who tries thirty-five years later to understand his former coach, role model, and mentor (both his good side and his very dark side) and Dempsey's impact on his own life.

A true story, Both Sides of the Line is one of those unique memoirs that reads like a deftly crafted novel from beginning to end. An absolutely absorbing and inherently fascinating read, Both Sides of the Line is very highly recommended for personal reading lists..."

--MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW (05/26/2016)

"Similar to John Feinstein's A Season on the Brink and Pat Conroy's My Losing Season, school administrator Kelly's memoir of his senior season at Don Bosco Technical High School in Boston's powerful Catholic Conference is a fascinating story of the rise of a perennial bottom-feeder to a league championship. Kelly's rags-to-riches account is interspersed with adversity and triumph and centers on Clyde Dempsey, an inspirational but controversial coach whose life and tragic end dominates the book. Dempsey spent time as a mob leg breaker and likewise nine years on the run in Canada after killing a man in a bar fight in 1981. After extradition back to Massachusetts, Dempsey was convicted and sent to prison, where he died in 2001. In 2014, Kelly and his teammates held a reunion, reflecting on their championship season, their current lives, and Dempsey. Throughout the narrative, Dempsey's mantra of coaching shines through: quickness, technique, and desire...a straightforward and overall great read, proving that fact is stranger than fiction."

--LIBRARY JOURNAL (05/26/2016)

High school players in a working class neighborhood of the 1970s gain desperately needed structure and guidance from Jack “Clyde” Dempsey, a scrappy, charismatic coach who seems like nothing more than a football geek. But “Coach” also happens to be the toughest guy on the streets of Boston, with a temper to match, and it’s his secret life as a mob enforcer/collector that forces him to flee the country, becoming one of America’s most wanted. In this memoir, a devoted Dempsey disciple, who later becomes a dean at a world private school outside Boston, tries thirty-five years later to understand his former coach, role model, and mentor—both his good side and his very dark side—and Dempsey’s impact on his own life. A COMPLETELY TRUE STORY.