Joseph J. Fontana Distinguished Service Award

The CHSCA annually recognizes substantive contributions to the Connecticut coaches through the Coaches Association with the Distinguished Service Award. Named for Joseph J. Fontana whose professional life was characterized by excellence in service to Connecticut coaches and high school athletics as CHSCA Executive Director, it is the association's most prestigious recognition of service by individuals who function outside of the CHSCA, CIAC & the NHSACA

Past Winners

2024 - Paul D. Mengold​
2022-23 - NONE
2021 - Derek Miles (Renstchler Field)
2020 - Award not presented due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2019 - Award not presented due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2018 - Larry DuPont (Basketball & Football Official)
2017 - William O'Brien (National Football Foundation)
2016 - Dr. Martin Semmel (Plymouth Public Schools)
2015 - Joe Arasimowicz (State Representative)
2014 - John Holt & Joe Zone (Channel 3 WFSB)
2013 - Michael Fasulo (Fasulo & Albini, CPA's)
2012 - Paul Hoey (CIAC)
2011 - Fred Balsamo (CAAD)
2010 - Mary McClintock (Avery Heights)
​2009 - Jack Freeman (Rentschler Field)

2008 - Joe Calvanese Jr. (Aqua Turf Club)
​2007 - Andy Baylock (UCONN)
2006 - John Frank (KeyTech LLC)
2005 - Keith Kenyon (N. Kingston, RI)
2004 - Jeffrey A. Hathaway (UCONN)
2003 - Mike Mehigen (OPM State of CT)
2002 - Lew Perkins (UCONN)
2001 - Hand Brown (CHSCA)
2000 - Walter "Doc" Hurley (Hartford)
1999 - Jerome Auclair (Southington)
1998 - Gov. John Rowland
1997 - Jim Sense (WATR, Waterbury)
1996 - Linda Wooster (Quinnipiac)
1995 - Hal Levy (Shoreline Newspaper)
1994 - John Michaels (Michael's Jewelers
1993 - Tom Drohan (United Technologies)
1992 - Owen Canfield (Hartford Courant)
​1991 - Don Russell (Wesleyan)
1990 - Dee Rowe (UCONN)
1988 - Nelson W. Nitchman (USCGA)

​1987 - John Toner (UCONN)
​1986 - Bill Detrick (CCSU)
1985 - Fran Poisson (University of Bridgeport)
1984 - Michael H. Savage (CIAC)
1983 - Bohdan Kolinsky (Hartford Courant)
1982 - Dr. William Moore (CCSU)
1981 - Gov. William O'Neil
1980 - Thomas Monahan (WVIT)
1979 - Walter Akerley (Commissioner of Officials)
1978 - William Guthrie (New Haven Journal)
1977 - Dick Galette (Channel 8)
1976 - Samuel Crockett (Windsor)
1975 - Reverend Robert Keating
1974 - George Ritchie (Wethersfield)
1973 - Bill Lee (Hartford Courant)
1972 - Bob Steele (WTIC)
1971 - Hank O'Donnell (Waterbury)
1969 - John Ruddy (CIAC)
1966 - John Berrill (Creator of Gil Thorpe)

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