A football team that has had inconsistencies at head coach the past six seasons is hoping it has found its long-term leader. Former Major League Baseball player Rico Brogna has been hired by Notre Dame-Fairfield to rebuild the Lancers into a contender in the Southwest Conference.
So what's a former professional baseball player who was recently on the fast track to be the future general manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks doing coaching high school football in Connecticut? He explained at an introductory press conference on Wednesday: It's all about family.
"I grew up in Massachusetts and I went to high school in Watertown [Conn.]. It's really challenging to have a family and to be flying all over the country for most of the year," Brogna said. "I have two young kids who are starting to get involved in their own activities, so that was the big factor in leaving the world of professional baseball."
Brogna described himself as "a Connecticut guy through and through," having coached football at Kennedy High School in Waterbury and Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury after retiring from baseball in 2001. His most recent involvement in football was as an assistant coach at Wesleyan University. The Woodbury resident said the opportunity to coach in Fairfield was too good to pass up.
"It really couldn't have worked out any better. The opportunity came around and it was an easy decision," Brogna said. "I know the history and tradition here and what a terrific school it is. It came together relatively quickly, so that's always a good sign."
Brogna made a career out of baseball, but his roots in football always drew him back to the sport. His father was a high school football and basketball coach and he dreamed of following in his footsteps.
"I've always loved football. I'd say I'm addicted to football," he said. "I used to be on the team plane and I would be drawing up football plays on napkins or pieces of paper."
Brogna said he has already met with the rising seniors of next year's Lancer team multiple times and knows the work that lies ahead.
"I remember scrimmaging Notre Dame when I was in high school, facing Coach [John] Svatik and being aware of the tradition here," he said. "My goal is to be a part of restoring that to where it's expected to be."
Brogna played parts of nine seasons in Major League Baseball from 1992 to 2001. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 1988 draft and played for the Mets, Phillies, Red Sox and Braves.
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