Archive for January, 2013

Oxford-NVL presentation and/or vote postponed to next week

Thursday, January 31, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Oxford-to-NVL fanatics who are waiting anxiously to bring the Wolverines into their apparently rightful place alongside the other All-American Valley schools will have to wait at least another week.

Both Woodland athletic director Brian Fell and Oxford athletic director/football coach Joe Stochmal confirmed Wednesday that the meeting of NVL and Oxford representatives, which was supposed to take place today, was pushed up at least a week.

Stochmal said the NVL informed his side the postponement was due to the death of Wilby athletic director George Tirado to cancer earlier this week.

Though Stochmal wasn’t certain, Fell said the meeting would probably take place Wednesday, Feb. 6. Fell did not guarantee a vote would be made.

Last November, the Oxford Board of Education voted to move its affiliation from the SWC, where it has competed since since becoming a school in 2008, to the NVL.

The Oxford board, led by former Oxford football assistant and board member Gerard Carbonaro, believes the NVL is a better fit for Oxford because of its proximity to natural town rivals Seymour, Ansonia and Derby, and because it would cut down on travel time between games.

Most of the NVL is located in and around Waterbury, whereas the SWC is spread further across Fairfield County.

The board also believes the NVL’s schools are closer in size to Oxford, a Class S school, and would create more competitive games.

Detractors, like wrestling coach Ben Blue, have pointed to the NVL’s lack of sponsorship of boys volleyball, lacrosse and wrestling as a prime reason not to spurn the SWC.

Adding Oxford would give the NVL 15 teams, and drop the SWC to 15.

To help Oxford’s football program, the SWC last year realigned its divisions into large, medium and small. Oxford went 8-2 last year, its best record since becoming a varsity program in 2008.

It’s official: Murphy takes over as New Milford football coach

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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John Murphy.

As expected, New Milford’s Board of Education approved John Murphy as its football coachWednesday night.

Murphy, 45, who coached 16 years and won three state championships at Mausk before resigning in December, will begin his new job Thursday morning. He was also hired as the school’s girls lacrosse coach and as a paraeducator at Schaghticoke Middle School.

Murphy could not be reached for comment Wednesday night. He takes over for Chuch Lynch, who resigned in December after nine seasons.

“We’re excited. I think we got a coach who will give us our best opportunity to be successful,” said New Milford athletic director Lance Pliego, who added that Murphy far outshone the position’s 10 other candidates throughout three rounds of interviews with administrators, parents and other members of the community.

“As we went through the interview process, we saw him as a guy who’s clearly — not just because of his history and his resume — somebody that had a lot of interest in our program, our town and becoming a part of our community.”

And the town’s equally excited. “Our players and a lot of people around town are anxious to get to know him,” Pliego said.

New Milford, which has been traditionally strong in wrestling and lacrosse, has had virtually no success in football.

New Milford has had just four winning seasons since 1994, its last was a 6-5 mark in 2008. Its best season was in 2001 when it went 8-3 and lost to Foran in the SWC championship game. As a boarderline Class LL/L school, it has never been to the state playoffs.

“I know the records and results didn’t show it, but I think we’ve had good coaching and good players, but I think we might have been one or two players away from being a solid football team,” Pliego said. “We just haven’t had the history. We haven’t been able to translate the mentality of our wrestling and lacrosse programs to football.”

Murphy, on the other hand, was 158-33-1 in 16 years at Masuk. His teams won six SWC championships, reached the playoffs 12 times and won three state titles in seven championship appearances.

“We’re hoping Coach Murphy will help get more players to come out for football and sell the program and change perceptions, get the kids to puff their chests out a bit more and have that confidence to win games,” Pliego said. “I don’t think we’re that far away. I know the kids are excited. They’ll find a coach who is passionate to get this turned around.”

Connecticut High School signing day commitments

Wednesday, January 30, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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National Signing Day is Feburary 6, just seven short days away. Here’s a quick look at who from Connecticut’s high school and prep schools are heading where.

We’re constantly adding to this update list, so if you have an announcement for us either post below or email me at sbowley@ctpost.com

Here we go…

High Schools

Updated: 1/31, 4:58 p.m.

  • Tim Boyle, QB, Xavier — Boston College (Though he’s looking at UConn now, reports the Hartford Courant)
  • Matt Walsh, LB, Hand — UConn
  • Andrew Isaacs, TE, Manchester — Maryland
  • Liam O’Neil, QB, Greenwich — Tufts
  • Peter Gesualdi, RB/DB, Darien — Hobart (lacrosse and football)
  • Tommy Myers, TE, Coventry/Windham Tech — UConn
  • Cole Ormsby, DE, Windsor — UMass UConn (Switched verbal on Jan. 24).
  • Lance Ormsby, LB, Windsor — Central Connecticut
  • Peter Gerson, DE, Hand — Yale
  • Marquis Little, LB, Manchester — Boston College
  • Andrew Barton, OL, Ridgefield — Bryant
  • Connor Rowe, QB, Ridgefield — Bryant
  • Jame Frusciante, WR, Staples — Princeton
  • Kyle Vaughn, OL, Staples — Fordham
  • George Smith, OL/DL, Holy Cross — Bryant
  • Andrew Matos, WR/DB, Ansonia — Rhode Island
  • Xavier Hardison, QB, Central — UNC-Pembroke
  • Mike Lasala, OL, Wilton- Washington & Lee
  • Chris Devaney, WR/LB, Newtown — Bryant
  • Nick Kelly, RB, Staples — Amherst College
  • Joey Zelkowitz, RB, Staples – Middlebury College
  • Kevin Kearney, LB, Staples — Bowdoin College
  • Pieter Hoets, DE, Staples — Trinity College
  • Patsy Romeo, OL, Wilton — Plymouth State University
  • Sean Merrill, OL, Sheehan — Sacred Heart

Prep Schools

Updated: 1/30, 9:00 p.m.

  • Shane Nastahowski, LB, Greenwich (Milford Academy) — Temple
  • Todd Stafford, QB, Brunswick — UMass
  • Noel Thomas, WR, St. Luke’s — UConn
  • Cory Jasudowich, LB, Cheshire Academy — UConn
  • Sadiq Olanrewaiu, OL, Salisbury School — Virginia
  • John Van Allen, ATH, Avon Old Farms — Harvard
  • D.J. Ellis, WR/DB, Sacred Heart (Gunnery) — Sacred Heart University
  • Dave DiGeorgi, RB Holy Cross (Gunnery) — Curry College
  • Kellen Croce, QB, Gunnery — Maine
  • Austin Whipple, QB, Salisbury — Penn State
  • Garrett Dolly, Canterbury — Temple
  • Pierre DuBois, Canterbury — Kenyon

What else? Either post below or email me at sbowley@ctpost.com

And now, a Masuk football update: Two candidates down, two remain

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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With John Murphy expected to be sworn in by a congregation of New Milford converts Wednesday night,  talk has naturally shifted back to his former place of employment: Masuk.

OK, let’s be honest, it’s never really shifted away from Masuk. We just took a slight detour when it was confirmed Murphy was on his way north, which seemed to bring out a rainbow of opinions from his former players on Twitter when news broke Monday night.

The naturally emotional Tweets from Masuk’s current and former players ranged from the initial shock (‘hypocrite’) to understanding (‘Coach did what’s best for him’) to anticipation (‘Can’t wait for Week 1′) and an underclassman’s lament (‘wish we could have shown him what we could do.’)

But now focus is back on Masuk’s next move.

So, here’s where we stand:

Athletic director John DeGenarro said Tuesday afternoon that second interviews were underway this week and that Masuk hoped to have a decision soon.

A source close to the Masuk decision-makers said that two of the candidates, Darien defensive coordinator Mike Forget, and Monroe Lions coach Steve Christy, were eliminated from contention.

That leaves Ridgefield associate head coach Dave Brennan and Weston coach Joe Lato.

The final recommendation will be made to the Monroe Board of Education for approval.

So there we are.

Maloney hires Trinity-Pawling’s Pierce Brennan as next coach (updated)

Tuesday, January 29, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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New Maloney coach Pierce Brennan (via Trinity-Pawling School website)

Update: 8:20 p.m.

Meriden’s Board of Education has approved Trinity-Pawling (N.Y.) assistant Pierce Brennan as Maloney’s next football coach, the Record-Journal of Meriden reported Tuesday night. He is the seventh coach in the history of the school, according to the Record-Journal.

Brennan takes over for nine-year coach Bob Zito, whose contract wasn’t renewed following last season. Zito went 46-46-1 and took the team to a state championship game during his tenure. Maloney was 3-7 last year.

Counting John Murphy’s impending hire at New Milford, there are now 18 high school football coaching vacancies to be filled.

Original post:

According to a report by Bryant Carpenter in today’s Record-Journal, Maloney is now even closer to appointing its next football coach.

The Meriden Board of Education is meeting tonight in a special session to discuss personnel matters, including the “unanimous” recommendation of a football coach.

Carpenter’s sources say the recommendation before the board is most likely Pierce Brennan, an assistant at Trinity Pawling in New York. No one would confirm it to him officially.

“All is can say is I received a recommendation for a candidate,” Superintendent Mark Benigni told the Record-Journal Monday night. “The (Maloney) committee made a unanimous recommendation and the Central Office team has had an opportunity to meet the candidate and will be forwarding a name to the Board of Education tomorrow night (Tuesday). The hope is the board will approve the appointment tomorrow (Tuesday).”

Brennan, a Long Island native, has ties to Connecticut. He once coached at the University of New Haven. His wife, Danielle, is an assistant women’s basketball coach at Quinnipiac.

Other candidates are Weaver coach Kevin Quinn and Middletown assistant Kevin Frederick, who are both teachers in the Meriden school district.

John Murphy expected to become next coach at New Milford

Monday, January 28, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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***

John Murphy is close to being named the next head coach at New Milford, pending approval by the town's board of education.

He’ll have a much longer ride to work, but it looks like three-time state championship winning coach John Murphy won’t be straying very far.

Murphy, who resigned at Masuk last month after 15 years, is expected be named the next head coach at New Milford.

It’s not official yet. Murphy’s hire is pending board of education approval, which will happen Wednesday.

Murphy, a Stratford resident, will be hired as paraeducator at Schaghticoke Middle School and would also take over as the girls lacrosse coach, according to the New Milford board of education’s budget agenda. He would officially begin his football coaching duties on Thursday.

Murphy and New Milford athletic director Lance Pliego both declined comment when reached Monday night. It’s board policy not to speak about potential hires until they’ve had board of education approval.

Murphy, who won 158 games in 16 years at Masuk, would replace Chuck Lynch, who resigned after nine seasons.

Unlike Masuk, which had played for a couple state titles before Murphy arrived in 1997, New Milford has had virtually no success in football.

Though the Green Wave once competed for an SWC title (a 7-6 loss to Foran in 2001), that remains its high watermark of football glory. It has never qualified for the state playoffs.

The Green Wave has just three winning seasons and has averaged just under 4 victories per season over the last 20 years.

Murphy’s first game as New Milford coach: vs Masuk.

Kevin Duffy contributed to this report.

Law grad, WestConn assistant Erik Larka named coach at Bacon Academy

Saturday, January 26, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Bacon Academy football coach Erik Larka (Photo via Western Connecticut State)

Bacon Academy filled its football vacancy Friday with Erik Larka, a West Haven resident and Law graduate, the Norwich Bulletin reported.

The 35-year old UConn graduate coached freshman for four years at Law until he was married and had children. Last year, he returned to coaching as a volunteer assistant at Western Connecticut State under Joe Loth.

“I was never as happy doing anything as when I was coaching, and I missed it,” Larka told the Bulletin.

He’ll likely have a part-time job at Bacon Academy and expects to move to Colechester with his family.

Larka’s hire cuts the statewide football coaching vacancies down to 19.

Goodbye Rentschler? CIAC exploring venue change for state championships (again)

Thursday, January 24, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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The NFA crowd at Rentschler Field moments before kickoff of the 2012 Class LL championship vs. Xavier on December 7, 2012. The game drew a total of 4,576 (the Xavier side was similar). The CIAC is considering moving its championship games out of Rentschler Field after three seasons. (Photo by Sean Patrick Bowley)

The North Branford crowd moments before kickoff of the Class S championship game with Ansonia on December 8, 2012. (Photo by Sean Patrick Bowley)

Too few fans. Too much overhead. A big shortfall.

That’s what the CIAC says is the problem with The Rent.

After just three years, the CIAC is thinking about abandoning East Hartford’s Rentschler Field as a football championship venue Marc Allard of the Norwich Bulletin reported today.

CIAC associate director Paul Hoey apparently dropped this bomb on the football committee’s monthly meeting on Wednesday at CIAC headquarters.

According to Hoey, the organization lost $38,000 from the four state title games and

The Ansonia crowd moments before kickoff of the Class S championship game against North Branford on December 8, 2012. More fans eventually would show up, but the side remained relatively sparse throughout the game. (Photo by Sean Patrick Bowley)

“the bills are still coming in,” the Bulletin writes.

Update: And now a follow-up report from the Hartford Courant quotes Hoey saying the figure is $20,000.

Either way, Hoey says, the organization is losing money on hosting the site at Rentschler Field.

“We rely on football to be a revenue-producing sport for us to help with those sports that don’t produce revenue, and we need to make money,” Hoey told Allard. “The management at Rentschler Field has been wonderful, but it just might be too big.”

With the Rentschler Field contract up for renewal this year, the CIAC is looking elsewhere. Central Connecticut State’s Arute Field, which recently expanded its capacity to 5,800, is the leading candidate, the Bulletin Reported.

The Class LL championship between Xavier and NFA, played Friday night, drew 4,576 fans, according to game statistics.

Significantly less attended the Class S and Class M championship games on Saturday morning and afternoon.

The Class L title game drew the second-best crowd of the weekend. Total attendance for the Saturday games was 5,189, according to figures.

The CIAC charges $10 for tickets for the two state championship days, suggesting the organization took in approximately $100,000 on ticket sales alone.

Benefits to making the switch is Arute Field’s artificial turf. Rentschler Field’s surface is grass, which is typically beat up by the UConn football season.

The Bulletin reported the committee members would tour Central’s facilities. No decision would be made until at least the next committee meeting, March 6.

The CIAC moved all of its state championships to Rentschler Field in 2010 when it revamped its state playoffs, reducing the championships from six to four but expanding the field to include a quarterfinals round (and 16 more teams).

Previously, the organization annually shuffled its sites between local high schools (like West Haven’s Ken Strong Stadium, Waterbury’s Municipal Stadium and Trumbull’s McDougall Stadium) and state colleges.

Central Connecticut State, which originally had just one side of stands, hasn’t been used as a site since it hosted the Class M title game between Ledyard vs. Berlin in 2007.

That year was also the last time the CIAC used Southern Connecticut State’s Jess Dow Field.

Read the full story in the Norwich Bulletin.

Newly refurbished Arute Field on the campus of Central Connecticut State in New Britain. Opposite field stands were recently added to increase capacity to 5,800.

UConn nabs Windsor’s Ormsby from UMass

Thursday, January 24, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Cole Ormsby is staying home after all.

Very close to home.

The monster Windsor defensive end switched his verbal commitment from UMass to UConn, The Hartford Courant reported Thursday.

“My family and I talked it over,” he told The Courant Thursday night. “It’s close to home. It just felt right.”

Ormsby, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound end, made 85 tackles and had 17 sacks (leading the state according to MaxPreps.com). Windsor went 11-1, losing only to Hand in the Class L title game.

Apparently, UConn has been making the rounds in-state, attempting to add players from its own backyard that might have committed elsewhere.

So far, the Huskies notched Hand’s Matt Walsh, St. Luke’s Noel Thomas, Cheshire Academy’s Cory Jadusowich and Coventry’s Tommy Myers.

HERE’S THE UPDATED RECRUIT LIST

Maloney-Meriden close to naming new coach

Thursday, January 24, 2013 by:Sean Patrick Bowley
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Maloney is close to naming its next head coach, according to a story in the Record-Journal.

The story, written by Bryant Carpenter, says Kevin Frederick, Kevin Quinn and Pierce Brennan are at least three of the leading candidates.

Both Frederick and Quinn are teachers in the Meriden school system. Frederick is an assistant at Middletown. Quinn is the head coach at Weaver of Hartford.

Brennan is an assistant at Trinity-Pawling (N.Y.), whose wife Danielle is an assistant basketball coach at Quinnipiac. He was formerly an assistant at the University of New Haven.

Former Bloomfield/New Britain/New London coach Jack Cochran interviewed but was not a finalist, according to the RJ’s sources.

The Maloney job opened in early December when the Meriden board of education declined to renew 9-year coach Bob Zito’s contract.

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