NEW CANAAN, Conn. – That Jerry McDougall would refer to himself as a “rookie coach” upon his return to the Connecticut football scene at St. Luke’s says as much about the character of the man as any of the impressive numbers he compiled during 44 years of coaching.
McDougall, who coached 34 years at Trumbull High, stepped down from coaching 11 years ago with a 265-126-9 record, a mark which represented the most victories in state history at the time. Though he was no longer coaching, McDougall says he was never away from the game.
“I’ve never separated myself from the game,” McDougall, 74, told the
New Canaan Advertiser. “I still go to high school practices, not every day, but several days a week, and I’ve watched high school football and college and professional football. It never leaves the inner sanctum of one’s self. Being involved with the game for so long, personally, I just enjoy it. I’m very unbiased of what I look at and I’m not critical. I enjoy watching the kids and I love watching the coaches coach.”
Now, after a decade of helping out at former opponents’ practices and watching Connecticut coaches do their thing, McDougall has returned to the gridiron as a member of the coaching staff at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan. McDougall has joined head coach Ryan Brown’s staff as the defensive coordinator, and Brown admits that he’s been learning something new from the coaching legend on a daily basis.
“He’s just a wealth of knowledge,” Brown said. “The guy has been involved in football for so long and knows so many things about it, this is just an unbelievable opportunity for myself to learn. Just to have that kind of resource around is a truly remarkable thing.
“He’s such a nice and unassuming person. He and I have sat down on numerous occasions this summer and just talked football for six or seven hours. We just talk and go back and forth on things. He’s done everything and seen everything that there is to see out there, he has an answer or a suggestion for everything.”
McDougall’s return was sparked by St. Luke’s former headmaster Dick Whitcomb. The two have been friends for nearly 60 years since their playing days with the University of Bridgeport football team, and have vacation homes near each other in Cape Cod. McDougall pointed out that Whitcomb’s kids refer to him as Uncle Jerry and his kids refer to Whitcomb as Uncle Dick.
Whitcomb felt his friend was destined to return to the football field.
“We always end up talking about football and I just felt that he has such a wealth of knowledge,” Whitcomb said. “I kept telling him he should really get back into coaching. He loves the sport and I consider him to be not just a coach but he’s like a master teacher in the classroom.
“He’s going to be terrific for St. Luke’s. These kids will have a lot of admiration because of what he’s accomplished and he’s so enthusiastic about it himself.”
“He just proposed it to me a while back and mentioned it a couple of times, and finally it sunk in,” McDougall said. “I asked what it would entail, and I met with the Headmaster and AD and Ryan and things went well. They offered me the opportunity to be an assistant coach and I felt that would be fun.”
McDougall’s career as a coach began at Central Catholic High in Norwalk, but he had his biggest impact in Trumbull, where he coached the Golden Eagles to four FCIAC championships, three state titles and seven trips to the state finals. His 265 wins now rank third in the state behind Ledyard’s Bill Mignault (321) and West Haven’s Ed McCarthy (287). New Canaan’s Lou Marinelli has 228 wins and ranks sixth.
McDougall also coached baseball at Trumbull for 32 years and compiled a record of 466-221 with three FCIAC and two state titles. In his final year on the diamond in 2005, Trumbull rolled to the FCIAC championship for a storybook ending to his baseball career.
McDougall also has a few New Canaan connections. His son Jerry and daughter Lauren are St. Luke’s graduates and he once worked at the New Canaan Field Club.
“I was a manager of the Field Club many, many years ago and I just got a great feeling having been there in the community,” McDougall said. “Even when I was coaching, people would come up to me whether it was at Trumbull or in New Canaan, and they were all so pleasant. I’ve just felt comfortable going back there at any time. I think it’s a great, great place for families and I feel a part of it.”
The Crusaders finished 1-8 last season and have struggled in recent years. Brown jumped at the chance to have McDougall on his staff, and Whitcomb praised the St. Luke’s head coach.
“(Jerry) and Ryan get along really well,” Whitcomb said. “I admire Ryan because that can be a tough decision for a young coach. He accepted it whole-heartedly.”
“When it first started, I didn’t really know how real the situation was or how real the opportunity would be,” Brown said. “Obviously you don’t coach for 44 years unless you can connect with the kids and they’re tremendously excited to have someone like that around.”
McDougall first met with St. Luke’s current headmaster Mark Davis and athletic director Kevin Butler before touching base with Brown. All involved were receptive to the idea if his “un-retirement.”
“He’s good for any school system because he’s very analytical,” Whitcomb said. “That’s what he does best. When he coached, what he did at halftime making adjustments is what really won games. He’s very perceptive and he will help to make adjustments that way, and he’s inspirational for the kids. I think they’ll give him 100 percent when they see how he operates.”
McDougall met some of the players in the spring and has been working with Brown for several months. Brown said there’s already been a boost in anticipation and excitement surrounding the team this year.
“There’s just something else there now,” Brown said. “The kids are asking about Coach McDougall all the time and it’s definitely added something to it. It imbues some energy into myself, the kids and the school in general. Especially now, with the news getting out there, it’s just a different energy level around the team.”
Practice for the Crusaders begins Monday, and McDougall said he’s heading into the season with a clean slate.
“I haven’t met a whole lot of the kids yet,” McDougall told the
New Canaan Advertiser. “Ryan had a little meeting before school got out and I had an opportunity to meet some of them individually. I’m going in there not knowing the personnel very well. I’m going in as a rookie coach. Maybe a little more experienced than a rookie coach, but I’m going to try to help improve the program, build a great relationship with the kids and the coaching staff and the administration.
“I’m not going in there to look for a full-time job or to try and take anyone’s job, I’m just going in there because of the love of the game and the kids.”
Dave Stewart, the Sports Editor of the New Canaan (Conn.) Advertiser, is a MaxPreps.com writer and photographer. He may be reached at 203-966-9541 or at sports@ncadvertiser.com.