For Immediate Release
October 4, 2021
CHSCA Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2021
Nine Inductees to be Honored at 44th Annual Induction Program November 18
(Cheshire, CT) – The Connecticut High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) has announced the 2021 CHSCA Hall of Fame inductees. Rich Bowen, Joe D’Ambrosio, Mark Dunn, Marty Gomez, August Link, Francis Pfeiffer, Richard Rosek, Susan Hopkins-Terrell, and Mike Walsh have been selected for the CHSCA Hall of Fame Class of 2021 and will be honored at the 44th Annual Induction Program on November 18 at 6:00 pm at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington, CT.
Bowen, Dunn, Gomez, Link, Pfeiffer, Rosek, Hopkins-Terrell, and Walsh were all selected based on the outstanding overall body of their work as high school coaches in their specific sport. D’Ambrosio was selected for his outstanding contributions in media.
“This ceremony by the CHSCA is an amazing event recognizing the phenomenal impact individuals have had on their athletes and communities,” said Deb Petruzzello, CHSCA President. “This class of legendary coaches is another group that we can be proud of.”
Rich Bowen has coached Wrestling at Killingly High School for 35 years, accumulating a record of 625-180-2, five CIAC State Championships, and nine Eastern Connecticut Conference (ECC) titles. He is a seven-time CHSCA Wrestling Coach of the Year and two-time National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Region 1 Wrestling Coach of the Year.
Joe D’Ambrosio is one of the most recognizable and trusted voices in Connecticut Sports Media. Best known for his work as the Voice of the UConn Huskies on WTIC-AM 1080 for 26 years, “Joe D” provided the signature calls for some of the greatest moments in Connecticut Sports History – including eight NCAA Basketball National Championships, 11 Final Fours, six College Football Bowl games, and countless memorable UConn Men’s and Women’s Basketball and Football regular and post-season games. A native of Hartford and graduate of South Catholic High School, he began his career as a reporter at WLIS Radio in Old Saybrook in 1978 and has worked as Sports Director at WPOP Radio, a sports anchor and reporter at both NBC Connecticut and Fox 61, and an anchor at ESPN Radio.
Mark Dunn coached Track & Field for 36 years at Stafford High School, where he also served as Athletic Director for 17 years and coached Cross Country and Girls Gymnastics for several years. His Girls Cross Country team won the CIAC State Championship in 1997, as did his Girls Gymnastics teams in 1982 and 1984. Dunn has also been an instrumental voice in the CHSCA Track & Field Committee and influenced the CIAC to add girls triple jump, include the 4x800 relay event, write the original relay qualification times for all boys and girls state class meets, and institute the current standard for individuals/relay teams in all classes advancing to the CIAC State Open Meet.
Marty Gomez has coached Baseball for 33 years at Lyman Memorial High School, where he has also served as Athletic Director for 23 years. He has led the Baseball program to a record of 513-258, runner-up finishes in the CIAC State Championship three times, and 19 league championships with the ECC/Charter Oak Conference. He was named the CHSCA Baseball Coach of the Year for the 2021 season and the NHSACA Region 1 Baseball Coach of the Year in 2017. His teams won the Sportsmanship Award through the Nutmeg and Eastern Board of Umpires three times. He also coached Girls Volleyball for seven years, finishing with a 137-33 record and winning a CIAC State Championship in 2016.
Susan Hopkins-Terrell coached Gymnastics at Norwich Free Academy for 21 years. She has a record of 218-59, CIAC State Championship wins for seven consecutive years from 1992-2002, runner-up finishes at the CIAC State Championship twice, and 10 league championships in the ECC. She was named Outstanding Coach of the Year by the CIAC Gymnastics Committee four times, NHSACA Region 1 Gymnastics Coach of the Year in 2005, Connecticut Gatorade Gymnastics Outstanding Coach in 2000, and the CIAC Outstanding Contribution Award for High School Gymnastics in 2002. She is already in the Norwich Sports Hall of Fame as a sportsperson in 1997, as a coach in 2001, and as an outstanding inductee for 2001-2019, as well as the Norwich Free Academy Hall of Fame and New Agenda Northeast Women’s Hall of Fame.
August Link coached Boys Golf for 44 years at Tolland High School, where also served as Athletic Director for 14 years and coached the Boys Soccer team for 20 years to 327 wins and two league championships in the North Central Connecticut Conference (NCCC). He led Boys Golf to a record of 745-314-22, three CIAC State Championships, runner-up finishes in the CIAC State Championship three times, and 12 league championships in the NCCC. He was named CHSCA Golf Coach of the Year in 1998 and NHSACA Region 1 Golf Coach of the Year in 2001. He served as President of NCCC Golf from 1988-2002 and Site Supervisor for the CIAC Division III Championship.
Francis Pfeiffer coached Boys Swimming & Diving at Bridgeport Central High School for eight years and Girls Swimming & Diving at Lauralton Hall for 24 years, leading both programs to an overall record of 250-134. He led Laurelton Hall to a record of 205-35, seven CIAC State Championships, and runner-up finishes in the CIAC State Championship 10 times. He was named CHSCA Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year twice (1996, 2012) and NHSACA Region 1 Swimming & Diving Coach of the Year in 2013.
Richard Rosek coached Track & Field for 25 years at Middletown High School and five years at Woodrow Wilson High School. He has led both schools to an overall record of 161-61 with six CIAC State Championships, including four with Middletown High School and two with Woodrow Wilson High School. His teams won league championships in the Mid-State Conference/Northwest Conference 15 times. He was inducted to the Middletown Sports Hall of Fame and started the Middletown Invitational Track & Field Meet. He also coached Football for five years and Girls Basketball for six years at Middletown High School, earning CBCBO Girls Basketball Association Coach of the Year in 1992, Class M Assistant Football Coach of the Year in 1995, Connecticut Football Board of Officials Coach of the Year in 1995, and Middletown Press/Middlesex County Girls Basketball Coach of the Year in 1995.
Mike Walsh coached Boys Basketball at Stamford Catholic/Trinity Catholic for 39 years and Girls Basketball for one year. He amassed a record of 633-294, leading Boys Basketball to seven CIAC State Championships, runner-up finishes in the CIAC State Championship six times, and league championships in the FCIAC six times. He also led Girls Basketball to the CIAC State Championship in 2019 in his one year as the Head Coach. He was named both CHSCA Boys Basketball Coach of the Year and NHSACA Region 1 Boys Basketball Coach of the Year in 2016. He has been inducted to the FCIAC Hall of Fame and the Fairfield County Sports Commission Hall of Fame.
The CHSCA will also recognize the following individuals at the Induction Program:
Mark Logan for his induction into the NHSACA Hall of Fame for his career as Head Coach of Track & Field and Cross Country and Athletic Director of RHAM High School.
Leonard Corto for his induction into the NHSACA Hall of Fame for his career as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director of South Catholic High School and New Britain High School.
Tom Murray for being named the NHSACA Distinguished Service Award recipient for the State of Connecticut for his career as Head Boys Basketball Coach of Branford High School and his efforts and contributions to the CHSCA.
The 44th Annual CHSCA Hall of Fame Induction Program will include presentation of Hall of Fame rings to each inductee and the plaques commemorating the careers of each inductee, which will be displayed at Rentschler Field at Pratt and Whitney Stadium in East Hartford - the site of the CHSCA Hall of Fame.
Tickets to the event are $60 and include an outstanding Aqua Turf dinner and a video presentation commemorating the careers of each inductee. Doors open at 6:00 pm, with dinner served at 7:00 pm. Tickets will be sold on a first paid, first reserved basis.
For more information contact:
Babby Nuhn - bnuhn@northbranfordschools.org
Len Corto – corto@csdnb.org
Online ticket sales are available beginning October 7th at www.chsca.org. Tickets can be purchased by going to the “Info/Events” dropdown menu.
Founded in 1951, the Connecticut High School Coaches Association supports its member coaches and their student-athletes by offering ongoing educational opportunities, recognizing outstanding coaching achievements, and providing general consultation and advice to its members.