Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Quick Words:

ken-roberts-football-coach

Full Text:

Ken Roberts Named New NHS Head Football Coach

BY KIM J. HARMON

Defensive coordinator Ken Roberts, like all the other candidates, had the

credentials and the experience to become the new head football coach at

Newtown High School.

What he had that the other candidates didn't, though, was the trust and almost

unquestioned support of the captains and a small group of parents involved in

the process.

And that's why Roberts was selected, last week, by Newtown High principal

William Manfredonia to succeed departed coach Bob Zito and lead of the

Nighthawks -- one of the state's premier football programs -- into the 21st

century.

"I was very surprised by the amount of support there was," said coach Roberts.

"I pictured going with Bob Zito to Stratford, but after hearing from the

captains and the parents, I knew they wanted me to stay.

Coach Roberts edged out a strong list of candidates for the position,

including Rob Trifone of Brien McMahon, former St. Joseph's coach Christy

Hayes, and Mark Ecke of Cheshire.

"I think I went into the process with two strikes against me," admitted coach

Roberts. "I first was, I was not in the educational system and the second was

the other coaches on the list."

But coach Roberts convinced Mr Manfredonia -- although it wasn't easy.

Reportedly, Mr Manfredonia was strongly considering another coach for the

position when he, after being asked by the parents' group, offered coach

Roberts another interview.

"The first interview was 30 minutes," said coach Roberts, "and it's tough to

know someone in 30 minutes. Someone talked [Mr Manfredonia] into seeing me

again and we got to talk a lot longer."

Coach Roberts was offered the position on Thursday night and he met with his

team on Friday afternoon after school, setting the stage for spring practices

which will begin next month.

"I'm very excited," he said. "Obviously, there's a great group of kids who got

me here. They knew what they wanted and they didn't give up. I give them a lot

of credit."

Coach Roberts was a linebacker at Shelton High School, graduating in 1986.

Upon graduation, he became an assistant under head coach Bob Riggio and spent

the next nine seasons as an assistant (three years) and defensive coordinator

(six years) under Riggio, Tony Branca and Joe Benanto, becoming part of two

state championship teams.

He coached alongside Bob Zito on some post-season All-Star teams and when

coach Roberts left Shelton, he left to join coach Zito at Newtown High in

1997.

Coach Roberts lives in Shelton with his wife, Lisa, and two children -- Kyle,

3, and Nicole, 1. He owns two businesses in the town -- Kid's First Learning

Center and Roberts' Lawn Service.

"I think it's great news for the football program," said Mike Kelley, one of

the parents involved in the process. "There was a tremendous list of qualified

candidates. But I think it was his leadership with the kids. When he has to

be, he's a tough disciplinarian, but he can relate to the kids and their

situations. His entire staff has proven itself and that was a big part of the

decision."

The coaching staff of John Larkins (who was also up for the position), Joe

Lato, Frank Durante and Carl Paternoster is expected to remain intact. Coach

Roberts also plans to bring in Branca, a line coach.

"He's committed to being there, in and around the athletic department, but not

only for the football kids -- all the kids," said Mr Kelley. "The continuity

of the program has been assured. Ken has made a difference. The ad was for a

football coach, but what Bill and captains and all the people involved were

looking for was more than a football coach. A coach is a teacher, too, and

that is something Ken is very strong at."

Coach Roberts' first game on the Newtown High School sidelines as the top dog

will be the annual Blue & Gold game in June. That could very well coincide

with the eventual completion of the concession stand overlooking the field.

It also appears the era of the Delaware Wing-T offense, which coach Zito

brought to Newtown, is at an end. Coach Roberts favors the I-formation and a

more featured back type of offense.

Coach Lato will be the new defensive coordinator, and that is one aspect of

the program that should stay relatively the same.

But coach Roberts' tenure at Newtown High School will be about more than just

football. He plans on getting the football team involved in the cosmetic

renovation of the football stadium, including scraping and repainting the

bleachers.

"We want to get the kids involved," he said. "There are so many things the

football team can do for the community. We can make this a year-round

experience."