By Hal Levy, Shore Line Newspapers
Special to MaxPreps.com
One school’s problem is another’s good fortune.
Jim Reynolds ran into a situation he was not happy with as head boys basketball coach at Wilbur Cross-New Haven and, despite a 254-90 record in 14 seasons with six Southern Connecticut Conference titles, six trips to the CIAC state quarterfinals, one to the semis and one to the finals, he made up his mind to resign.
“I don’t want to burn bridges,” Reynolds said. “I had 14 great years at Cross and now I look forward to some great years at Guilford.”
Two days after his letter of resignation was accepted, Reynolds was announced as the new head coach at Guilford, replacing Jay Karlins, who stepped down following the season.
“Some things happened,” Reynolds said of his reasons for leaving New Haven. “There were some differences of opinion as to what was important and what was not. I made a phone call to Guilford at the end of April, was interviewed last week and accepted the position.”
“We think he’s just a great addition to our coaching staff,” Guilford athletic director Chip Dorwin said, himself a former – and very successful –boys basketball coach at Guilford. “He is a great fit and will do a wonderful job at Guilford. I was quite surprised when he called me.”
Reynolds has an impressive resume aside from coaching Cross. He was the Director of Basketball for the 1995 Special Olympics World Games in New Haven and he still serves as Director of Basketball for Connecticut Special Olympics and the Director of the Connecticut Special Olympics Urban Youth Games. He has coached at Farnham House in New Haven and runs clinics for players and coaches.
He has been honored by Special Olympics (Unsung Hero Award, Tom Shriver Award), the New Haven Tap-Off Club (Coach of the Year) and the New Haven Board of Approved Basketball Officials (Sportsmanship Award).
“We had a great pool of candidates for the position before Jim became involved,” Dorwin said. “It was as good a pool of coaching candidates as I can ever remember for any of our openings in my 22 years as AD.
“Jim is a passionate coach who uses his love for the game of basketball to help teach character traits to his players that will last long after their playing days. He is the type of coach that Guilford High School is pleased to bring on staff.
Reynolds does not work in the school system. He is affiliated with the ADR Perfetto company in New Haven as its sales manager, but he does not consider that a detriment.
“The job has some flexibility, so if I need to be at school to meet with teacher or a student, I can do it,” Reynolds said.
The 52-year-old East Haven resident agreed that there were differences between Cross and Guilford.
“There is definitely a difference, but you are still coaching and teaching,” Reynolds said. “It’s going to be a challenge because they have had a little bit of a lull the past several years. I hope to build a competitive team. The challenge right now is to get better, to get the kids to come out and be part of the program. The goals are different, but the methods are the same.”
CHSCA Dinner
The Connecticut High School Coaches Association conducted its 44th annual Recognition Dinner Thursday at AquaTurf in Southington.
The organization presented the John Fontana Distinguished Service Award to University of Connecticut coach Andy Baylock, a former baseball and football coach at the school.
He now works with the football program in alumni relations. He says – and I believe it – that he has been to every high school in the state of Connecticut and has seen every American Legion baseball team.
Ken Kezer received the Thomas Monahan Honor Award which goes to a member of the CHSCA. A former coach at New Britian, he remains active on a number of CHSCA committees and co-chaired the national coaches convention in Connecticut in 2002.
Mark Valenti and Diane DelRosse of the Connecticut Student Loan Foundation received the Joseph Calvanese Sponsorship Award for their work in making affordable student loans available to many high school students.
In addition, Joe Madaffari of Brien McMahon-Norwalk was given the past president’s award by current president Beth Sarnacki of Cromwell.
Coaches of the Year included Larry Anderson, Tolland (boys basketball), Al Arrington, Wilton (boys tennis), George Crouse, Stonington (girls tennis), Arleigh Duff, Nonnewaug-Woodbury (girls cross country), Ed Faulkner, Brien McMahon-Norwalk (softball), Hudith Gentile, Holy Cross-Waterbury (cheerleading), Pamela Hammersmity, Simsbury (girls lacrosse), Lee Hunt-Weaver-Hartford (indoor track), John Iovino, Norwich Free Academy (baseball), Judith Joslin, Enfield (boys volleyball), Dave McOmber, Wethersfield (boys swimming), Gary Moore, Hillhouse-New Haven (girls track), Robert Murray, Danbury (boys cross country), John Novakowski, Bristol (athletic director), Art Nunes, Naugatuck (boys soccer), Ted Oczkowski, Trumbull (wrestling), Tom O’Donnell, Darien (boys golf), Bill Pacelia, Rocky Hill (girls soccer), Maureen Perkins, Glastonbury (field hockey), Marce Petroccio, Staples-Westport (football), Thayer Redman, Manchester (boys track), Bill Scarlata, Norwich Free Academy (girls basketball), Jack Stabach, East Lyme (girls swimming), Ben Trowbridge, Plainfield (Unified Sports), George Vargo, Middletown (girls volleyball), Bill Verneris, Hamden (ice hockey) and Gary Wright, East Lyme (boys lacrosse).
Connecticut is the only state in the country which hosts a single banquet to honor all its coaches of the year.
