Swampscott High School graduate Phill Witt will take over as head coach of Marblehead High School’s varsity girls basketball team.

Marblehead announced Tuesday that Witt will assume the role for the 2026–27 season, succeeding Paul Moran, who is returning to coach the Swampscott High School boys basketball team.

Witt currently serves as the middle school athletic coordinator, track coach, and a teacher at Marblehead Veterans Middle School. He also coaches the girls junior varsity soccer team at Marblehead High School.

“Coach Witt brings a wide variety of athletic leadership and coaching experience to the girls’ basketball program,” the Marblehead High School athletic department wrote in a press release. “He has worked with Marblehead student athletes at all levels, from grade school to varsity.”

After graduating from Swampscott High School, Witt earned a bachelor of science in sports and fitness administration from the University of Miami. He later managed baseball operations for the Wachusett Dirt Dawgs, substitute taught in Swampscott Public Schools, and directed sports at the Ipswich Family YMCA, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“Phill is part of our community and understands that building our girls’ basketball program starts with our youth and middle school programs,” said Marblehead High School Athletic Director Kent Wheeler. “He knows and is respected by many of the girls he will be coaching this year, as well as those coming to MHS over the next few years. He is a good fit for our program. I am excited to see him transition into this varsity head coaching role.”

Witt steps into the role after Marblehead’s season ended in February with a Division 2 preliminary round state tournament loss to Notre Dame Academy.

Moran now returns to Swampscott, where he began his career and remains one of the school’s most decorated players. He was announced as the next head coach after Jason Knowles stepped down in March.

“Paul has an obvious passion for the game, the ability to motivate student-athletes and can build positive connections within the community,” said Athletic Director Kelly Wolff. “Coach Moran was selected from a talented pool of candidates. The screening committee was impressed with Coach Moran’s knowledge of the game of basketball, and commitment to the students in Swampscott and the town as a whole.”

Moran previously told the Swampscott Tides he is excited to return home and looks forward to next season. His son, Matt, will also join the coaching staff and lead the boys freshman team.

“It will be fun,” Moran said. “We want to strengthen the spirit of the school and the community.”