The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GARY PALLADINO JACK TAGLIA ary Palladino has accumulated over 500 wins while coaching on the high 1972 graduate of Assumption College, Jack Taglia earned a bachelor of arts degree Gschool level for 41 years at various schools throughout the state, including Ain History. He subsequently went on to receive a master's degree in American The Connecticut Interscholastic South Catholic, Portland, St. Paul, and East Hartford. While at St. Paul, he won Studies from Fairfield University in 1975 and a master's degree in School Counseling back-to-back state championships. He then coached at the University of Hartford from Central Connecticut State University in 1981. Athletic Conference from 1975-81. Jack began teaching Social Studies in 1973 at the Alternative School in his home In 1982, Gary joined the Notre Dame High School faculty as a teacher and town of Waterbury. From there he went on to teach at Kennedy High School in the early head basketball coach. He is well-known as a teacher of the game of basketball; 80's. His career path eventually changed when he was appointed as a guidance coun- and Notre Dame has enjoyed great success under his tutelage, having reached the selor at Kennedy. He continued in that position until his retirement in 2008. His career presents finals of the state tournament two times. Gary has been a featured speaker at in education spanned 35 years, all in the Waterbury school district. numerous camps and clinics, spreading his knowledge on "The Art of Scoring" Basketball was a passion for Jack. He began coaching in 1974 when he began the throughout New England. first basketball program at the Alternative School. In 1975, he took the position of assis- Gary feels lucky to have received many awards and honors during his tenure tant basketball coach at Kennedy High School and he was appointed the head coach in as a high school coach. He has been selected as "Coach of the Year" eleven times. 1977. Jack coached for a total of 34 years. His teams won 355 games in his 31 years as Gary has been inducted into seven Halls of Fame, including the University of head coach. During that time, Kennedy won three consecutive Naugatuck Valley League Hartford, the Connecticut High School Coaches Association, the New England championships, in 1989, 1990, and 1991. At that time, Kennedy was the first league The 87th Annual Boys' Basketball, Bristol Sports, Notre Dame High School, St. Paul High School and the school to win three consecutive championships in a row. His team also played for the New Haven Tap-off Club. He has also been selected as the Northwestern District Class M state championship in 1990. 1 candidate for the national High School Coach of the Year in 1998, 2000 and in Jack has been honored with several awards during his career. In 1988-89, he was Basketball Tournament 2002. The award he is most proud of is the Doc McInerney Award, received in named coach of the year by the Olympian Club of Waterbury; and, in 2004, he was given 1975. Gary has had articles published in the Athletic Journal and Scholastic the Olympian Club Award. In 1990, he was named outstanding coach by the New Haven Coach Magazine. Tap-off Club, and, in the same year, he was given the Sportsmanship Award by the New Gary has been an active member of the CIAC and served in several different Haven Board of Officials. positions since 1986. He was on the executive committee of the CHSCA from Jack was involved in many committees during his tenure as coach. He served on 1999-2005 and chairperson of the All State/Academic All State since 1999. He the CIAC Boys' Basketball Committee from the late 1980's until 2008. He began as one has been on the Connecticut All State Festival Committee and the CIAC of the representatives for the coaches and eventually remained on the committee as a DEDICATION Basketball Dedication Committee since 1989. consultant. As a representative and eventual chairman of the coaches, he also served as Gary is still doing what he loves to do most - coaching basketball at Notre chairman of the Boys' Basketball Committee for the Connecticut High School Coaches Dame High School. Association. In addition, Jack was chairman of boys' basketball for the Naugatuck Valley League. He is presently a member of the CHSCA High School All Star Game 2009 Committee and serves as a member of the All-State Basketball Committee. ANTHONY SCALISE Jack and his wife Sandi have been married for 25 years. nthony Scalise started his basketball officiating career in 1969 when he joined AIAABO Board #6. During his early career he was mentored by Frosty Francis and Ed Batogowski. In 1974, he was promoted to varsity status and his career took off. After two years of varsity high school officiating, he joined the CBOA, a col- CIAC BOYS' BASKETBALL COMMITTEE lege basketball officiating organization. Anthony started working Division II and Division III games for two outstanding commissioners, Frosty Francis and Charlie • Walt Zalaski, Granby Memorial H.S. - • George Synnott, Berlin H.S. Diehl. In 1980, he was promoted to Division I. For the next twenty-two years, he Chair • Anthony Azzara, Woodland Reg. H.S. officiated in the Patriot League, Ivy League, and American East League, working • Phil House, Westbrook M.S. • Dan Scavone, Holy Cross H.S. 10 NCAA Division II tournaments including three semi-finals and one final. While officiating at the collegiate level, Anthony also continued working high • Joe Castagnola, New Fairfield Public school games for IAABO Board #6. He served Board #6 as assistant commission- Schools Coaches: er for twenty-three years, assistant interpreter for fifteen years, teacher at IAABO • Edward Malizia, Weaver H.S. • Neal Curland, Norwich Free Academy training camps for ten years, and president for two years (1990-91). He was co- • Rick Misenti, Guilford H.S. • Dan Nemergut, Bristol Tech. Saturday, March 21, 2009 chairman of the 1994 Annual IAABO meeting and he was State Board #5 President • Stephen Perry, Capital Prep School Education Center from 1994-95. He is a recipient of the James E. Coogan Award (2001), and the The Cabaret Theater Connecticut High School Coaches Association Official of the Year Award (2004). • Lee Panagoulias, Branford H.S. • Gregg Hunt, Bethlehem Mohegan Sun, Uncasville During his years of high school officiating, he had the honor and pleasure of work- • Joseph Arcarese, Plainfield H.S. • Larry Anderson, Windsor 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. ing for two great Board #6 commissioners, Gerry McGrath and Ed Lynch. Anthony also had the honor of working for Tom Monahan and Tom Murray, officiating the CIAC high school basketball tournaments, working four girls' finals The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic and twenty-two boys' finals. A career highlight was officiating a girls' final and Conference boys' final in the same year. Event Sponsors: Through his years of officiating, he has worked with many outstanding offi- 30 Realty Drive, Cheshire, CT 06410 cials and coaches. Anthony made many lasting friendships and has some great (203)250-1111 • FAX: (203) 250-1345 • www.casciac.org • IGA • Subway • Waterbury Republican-American • memories. ANTHONY "BUTCH" AZZARA plan was to have a State Leadership Conference at which student leaders could PROGRAM nthony "Butch" Azzara is a native of pass on what they learned at the national conference to other student leaders from AWaterbury, Connecticut. He grew up and all over Connecticut. In order to implement this plan, with the help of the students Welcome: George Synnott - Principal, Berlin High School attended local public and parochial schools. While from Cromwell and Staples, John realized that he needed a larger group of student- at Sacred Heart High School, he lettered in football, athletes within his own school. That is how the Student-Athlete Leadership Team Chair, CIAC Board of Control baseball, and basketball. Butch then continued his was born. Today, S.A.L.T., is one of the most active and influential clubs and com- academic and athletic career at Fairfield University. munity service organizations within the high school community. Introductions: Walter J. Zalaski - Athletic Director While there, he played Division I baseball under Before becoming athletic director, John was actively involved in high school Don Cook and earned his BA degree in 1971. He athletics as an official. He has been a member of IAABO for 35 years. He is a Granby Memorial High School earned his master's degree in administration from past president and is currently the secretary/treasurer of Board 6. He has worked Chair, CIAC Boys’ Basketball Committee Fairfield in 1979 and a 6th year in administration several boys' and girls' state tournament games, including a girls' semi-final game from Central Connecticut State University in 1985. in each of the last three CIAC tournaments. In the sport of softball, John has been He began his teaching career in the Waterbury Public a member of ASA for over 25 years. He has officiated 15 high school state cham- Schools in 1972. He coached cross country, track, pionship games. He has also worked at the college level since 1995. 2009 CIAC BOYS' BASKETBALL MERIT AWARDS basketball and varsity baseball at Crosby and John is the current treasurer of the Northwest Conference, the Nutmeg Kennedy High Schools. His baseball team had nine Football League, and the Nutmeg Swim League, which are all in their last year of straight CIAC berths, and in 1984 recorded the best season in school's history with a existence. John and the coaches at Plainville High are looking forward to the chal- JACK TAGLIA 17-6 record while advancing to the finals of the CIAC LL tournament.