It is a Tuesday in early December. Five days earlier your team has won on Thanksgiving to qualify for the state tournament, and you have had a short week to prepare for an opponent you don’t know that much about.
Who do you want coaching your team?
New Canaan’s Lou Marinelli, Staples’ Marce Petroccio and Greenwich’s Rich Albonizio have all been in and succeeded in the above scenario. The three oversee the most decorated football programs in the FCIAC.
This makes for a compelling question: which coach do you want on the sideline with your team?
And if you prefer one of the league’s 16 other coaches, select other and send a comment along stating which coach you want and why.
The poll is open until noon on Sunday. This is a tough question. I’m interested to see the results.
Dave, You are opening a big can of worms with that question. It,s not a fair question because 15 of the other coaches have never been in a big game. Only Bob Trifone of Darien qualifies with the other three.
There is no such thing as a big game coach. The players win or lose the game by making plays.
However you did ask a question so in the history of the Fciac the one coach who I feel is not only the best coach but the best innovator of the passing game is Coach Bob Lynch who coached at Stamford CAtholic and New Canaan. He was way before your time so you might not have heard about him but ask some old-time players and coaches and see what they say.
Comment by jjs — October 12th, 2009 @ 9:51 pm
Very hard to tell what constitutes a big game coach but the biggest games are the state championship games. With that said, Coach Marinelli has seven, coach Al has four and Marce has three. Coach Trifone has one. Regular season and Fciac Championship games don’t count as big games in my opinion though they are important for league bragging rights.
Comment by sam — October 12th, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
This is very interesting. I would like a poll as to who can make Stamford Football matter again ? It has been too long since we had a Championship caliber team in Stamford. Who would most likely be able to turn around a program ? Is it a current Coach ? Is it someone who used to Coach one of those schools ? Is it a Coach that is in the League now ?
Or Is it impossible task ? i.e. Vince Lombardi and Bill Parcells couldn’t turn these programs around.
Comment by For what it's worth — October 13th, 2009 @ 12:04 pm
Jack Cochran is available, guarantee in two years Stamford Football will be in HS CIAC playoffs. Brings baggage but will put winning team on field. Stamford would be perfect setting for him.
Comment by Wilson — October 13th, 2009 @ 5:09 pm
Mike Ornato
Comment by Up from Fla. — October 14th, 2009 @ 10:12 am
Petroccio does the most w/ the least
Comment by Clyde — October 14th, 2009 @ 11:26 am
As an observer of FCIAC football agree with Cochran and Petroccio. Not sure Marce can be pried away from Staples that he has built into a State Powerhouse. Cochran would be nice fit for Westhill or Stamford provided he could get through Compliance……
Comment by Full Disclosure — October 14th, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
Jerry McDougall and John Maher. Two old school coaches who get the best from their players. Don’t forget Tom Fijitani.
Comment by jake — October 14th, 2009 @ 12:10 pm
I should have specified the poll is for current coaches, though all the former ones mentioned would be excellent choices.
As for those of you who want Cochran in Stamford, I guess this shows the level of desperation there is. He defines classless. He talked with Stamford High years ago. Glad he didn’t end up here.
Comment by Dave Ruden — October 14th, 2009 @ 12:37 pm
KEVIN JONES AND JOHN COCKRAN ARE ACTUALLY GOOD CHUMS. THEY USED TO BE ROOMATES AND BEST FRIENDS. BUT KNOWING COCKRAN HE WOULD TAKE HIS BUDDIES JOB IN A HEART BEAT
Comment by kleve — October 14th, 2009 @ 1:03 pm
OK, Lets talk about best CT high school coach all time…Mike Ornato
Comment by Up from Fla. — October 15th, 2009 @ 9:16 am
Stamford has the best athletes in the state consistently. If Cochran went there they would be the best team in the state. No doubt in my mind. And as far as all time coaches its gotta be McDougall in my mind.
Comment by guy — October 21st, 2009 @ 5:55 pm
Greenwich has had the best overall talent and depth in the FCIAC because they have a great program and a huge enrollment. Give the other coaches the talent that Greenwich has had and then you can make comparisons.
Comment by jjs — October 22nd, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
I agree with guy that stamford always as the best talent if u look at it, they always go off to college and dominant. Im wondering why cant stamford win games with the talent the have now thats the biggest question? Every year they have talents like Vladamier, Alex Joseph, Dontay Wilson, Chris Peterson, Ross Bertrand, Carrington Becford, Desmond Hinds, Josh Maignon, Chris Evans, Kenny Fersner, and now they have probably the two best linebacker duo coming out of high school in Khairi Fortt and Patrick Atkinson and their still losing whats wrong with this picture please tell me?
Comment by Danny — October 25th, 2009 @ 9:29 am