After a long list of memorable accomplishments over the past three months, starting on Sunday morning it is time for you to decide who was the very best of the best. We have selected eight outstanding finalists for our annual BlueStreak-Overtime FCIAC Winter Coach of the Year award.
The winners will receive a trophy from BlueStreak Sports Training and the Stamford Advocate.
The final field was compiled after talking to and getting recommendations from a number of league coaches in each sport, as well as personal observations.
The eight finalists are:
Rich Bulan, New Canaan Girls Hockey
Niko Filippakis, Trumbull Wrestling
Joel Geriak, Wilton Boys Basketball
Lauren Gibbs, Ridgefield Girls Hockey
Terry Lowe, Greenwich Boys Swimming
Steve Norris, Darien Girls Track
Mark Pettorini, Fairfield Boys Hockey
Ricky Shook, Danbury Wrestling
The voting will run from Sunday morning until next Wednesday at noon, so check back and be prepared to vote.
(I invite you to follow me on Twitter: @DaveRuden and like the Overtime Facebook fan page.)
Whatever Dave I’m done talking to you about this you are who you are. A snake and a clown so yes wear your makeup.
Kick rocks… And yes I’m very loyal to Westhill and Stamford High School. I like Joe nothing bad to say about him at all but he don’t deserved coach of the year.
I’m done
A couple of things:
— I know you are loyal, but Wilton coach Joel Geriak is very deserving.
— I covered Westhill a lot this year, and not that I need to defend myself but if you go back and read everything I did nothing but praise the team all year. Go back on the blog and read the post I wrote about the team. I have the utmost respect for Howard and the job he did this year.
— I probably should have thought more about making Howard a finalist. It is a valid point and argument. With so many sports and so many teams, there is going to be a miss or two. Tried my best. If you find that a suitable reason to vilify me and call me a snake and a clown, so be it.
Thanks Stingford. Putting together the coach finalists was very difficult. I picked the four coaches of my Team finalists that I will announce later, but I wanted coaches who got their teams to overachieve or took them to places they haven’t been before. I will guess I talked to 10-12 coaches in all sports. Some told me there was no one in their sport who deserved to be up with the other finalists. Tried my best and probably missed 1 or 2. If that makes me a clown, I’ll wear the makeup.
Dave yes you’re a clown. The fact that you didn’t consider Coach White is a joke. He loss his whole team from last year. They ended up playing very good basketball made it to state quaterfinal losing by 2pts to a very good East Hartford team. Now this speak alot about coach White. What a great season Westhill High School had and once again Coach White is overlook and still not getting any credit from you and his peers. He been though alot medical and still overcame a major illness and he came back and had a very successful season.
There no way Wilton Coach should be name Coach of The Year. But it was my understanding he was vote by his peers I would to final count.
For you Dave believe me Westhill will be very good next year and believe me Dave when I say this you will be all over Westhill next season. Why becasue TC willn’t be the same. I hope Westhill overlook you just like you overlook them. Everyone who read you blog kn you’re a snake and a clown.
Once again good job to Coach White an his coaching staff at Westhill High School.
Jesus David – I cannot believe you don’t have every single coach to ever coach a winter sport on here. What were you thinking!!!
Love how the guy that goes you a clown still reads your blog… clearly you do provide a service that they are interested in. Keep up the good work, you can’t crown everyone, and not everyone deserves that crown.
Westhill Grad – go start your own Blog.
Don’t think I’m a clown, but I’m human and capable of mistakes. One I admittedly should have considered more carefully.
How does Howard White from Westhill not make the list after having to go through the illnesses that he has and coached the team the way he did. You gotta be joking that is why this blog and reporter is a clown.
One of hardest calls. Can only have 1 coach per school. Gibbs also FCIAC Coach of Year. From talking to hockey people, she might have done more with less. He is most deserving too.
Gallagher the ridgefield hockey coach not here? FCIAC champs, state semis and he won actual FCIAC hockey coach of the year. Interesting he’s not here