Page 20 - North Haven Magazine Issue 33 Spring 2024

North Haven Football:
Nor th Ha ven Football:

An Elite Program from Day 1 by Mike Proto

A program that builds
character, selflessness, and
integrity in its players and
enriches the community

The last two seasons have been very special ones for the North Haven High School Varsity Football Team. In the 2022 campaign,
they defeated Killingly by a score of 51 -34 to win the Class MM State Championship. This past season, they retained their crown
by defeating a strong Wilton team 21 – 0. They have since received numerous accolades and are now considered one of Con-
necticut’s premier programs in football. This is as it should be for I can’t think of any program more worthy of such recognition.
However, in my mind, even if they had not become state champions, it would make no difference. The community of North Hav-
en is blessed to have a high school football team of such distinction. The reality is that the North Haven Varsity football program
under head coach Anthony Sagnella and his myriad of assistant coaches, all of whom can be head coaches in their own right, has
been an elite program from Day 1.

During my last five years of teaching, I was to pay tribute to the many fine ath- play in the high school program. Young
had the opportunity to work very closely letes who played on past North Haven aspiring athletes quite naturally look up
with the football program as a volunteer. teams by inviting them to speak to the to the Varsity football players and are
My role was to oversee the academic per- team at the traditional pasta dinners that given ample opportunities to interact
formance of the team members and to have always taken place on the night be- with them. It is especially impressive to
help them prepare for life after football. fore a game. These talks have served to see the number of youth football players
It didn’t take me long to realize that I had inspire the current players to strive for that form a tunnel for the Varsity team
become part of something very special. excellence. In fact, after winning their to run through as they take to the field
Each coach, and there were numerous first state championship in 2022, Coach before a home game.
ones, and many of them were volunteers, Sagnella was quick to say that one of the
had a specific role to play in making the reasons for the team’s success was that Game night on Mike Vanacore Field
practice sessions run smoothly. They they were standing on the shoulders of has become a magical experience. From
even had a coach who worked specifical- all the athletes that preceded them. the fireworks that are ignited before the
ly with the nose guard position and one game to the sirens that sound off after a
who worked exclusively with the team’s North Haven score, as well as the North
kicker. The entire practice was scripted Haven band playing and the cheerlead-
down to the last detail and major empha- ers exhorting the crowd to cheer on the
sis was placed on the various fundamen- team, there is excitement in the air. And,
tals of the game. It is not an accident that when the game is over, the football team
North Haven teams are rarely penalized gathers before the band and sings the
and have very few turnovers in any given alma mater. It is heartwarming to see the
game. The players are taught the proper pride in the eyes of all the players as they
way to do things and are extremely re- sing this poignant song.
ceptive to the coaching they are receiv-
ing. In order for any football program to ex-
The 2014 North Haven Football Coaching Staff perience long-term success in this day
During my five years on the sidelines, I with Anthony Longley and age, it is essential that the players be
was especially struck by the fact that no committed to off-season workouts. Here
matter what situation the team was fac- Much like his counterpart in baseball, again, the players at North Haven have
ing, either while at practice or in a game, Coach Bob DeMayo, it did not take taken advantage of the numerous op-
the coaches never stopped coaching and long for Coach Sagnella to implement a portunities that have been provided for
the players never stopped being receptive unique and highly effective offensive sys- them. Whether it’s taking advantage of
to the instruction they were receiving. tem. North Haven’s single wing offense, the strength and conditioning program
The respect that the coaches and players with its complex blocking schemes, is that is open to all athletes at the high
had for one another was palpable. They exceedingly difficult to defend against school during the school year or mak-
were all in and totally committed to be- and has served to give his teams a special ing the decision to get up at 6:00 a.m. in
coming the best they could possibly be. identity. the summer to participate in a strength
In a very real sense, they were, and I am and conditioning camp, the coaches and
sure still are to this day, a family. Through the years he has also developed players can be seen pursuing excellence.
a very strong relationship with the town’s
Since being hired in 1997, Coach Sagnel- youth football program. From a very ear- While the components outlined above
la and his staff have worked extremely ly age, the players coming up through the that have been employed by the football
hard to create a winning culture. One of ranks are taught the single wing offense program are common among all other
the first actions that they implemented and, hence, they are better prepared to successful teams, there is one tradition

20 North Haven Magazine - Spring Issue 2024