According to a story in Tuesday's Rutland (Vt.) Herald, Springfield High School coach Mike Hatt has been named Vermont's head coach for the 2009 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl.

The Herald story said Vermont Interscholastic Football League executive director Bob Hingston made the announcement at a meeting Monday at Hartford High School. Vermont will be trying to end an eight-game losing streak against New Hampshire in the annual all-star high school football game.

"We have a lot of skill kids this year who not only have great athleticism, but great size," Hatt told the Herald. "That excites me."

The New Hampshire head coach has not been announced.

Hatt's coaching staff will include Springfield assistant Rich Saypack, Bill Miller and Chris Sawyer from Brattleboro, and Bellows Falls head coach Bob Lockerby.

Hatt guided Springfield to the Division III championship this season.

Hatt graduated from Springfield in 1978 and was a three-sport athlete for the Cosmos. He then earned a physical education degree from Springfield (Mass.) College

Hatt has also coached varsity basketball at Stevens High School (Claremont) and at Springfield.

During his eight years as Springfield's football coach, the Cosmos are 39-37, including an 11-0 record in 2008.

The Vermont and New Hampshire Shrine teams will report to Kimball Union Academy in Meriden on July 24. Next year's game will be played Aug. 1 at Windsor High School.

The game is usually played at Dartmouth College, but that site will be unavailable in 2009 because of construction at Dartmouth's Memorial Field.