“Blindsided” by Allegations Against Him, Coginchaug High School Football Coach Quits

The former Coginchaug High School football coach is speaking out on why he quit with two games to go in the season.

“One hundred percent blindsided, one hundred percent,” D’Angelo said of the allegations player's parents have made against him. “They stacked the box on me. They came in with false accusations and lies”

After last Friday’s game, D’Angelo said he suspended a senior offensive lineman for leaving the field and cursing at a fan in the stands during the third quarter.

“We talked and decided two weeks was merited, which meant his season was over, his high school career was over,” D’Angelo said.

D’Angelo resigned on Tuesday after he says parents of seniors upset by the suspension approached school administrators calling for an investigation into the first-year coach. His entire coaching staff has also stepped down and the team forfeited this Friday’s game against Granby High School.

“I did not leave because I was afraid of the allegations,” D’Angelo said, “I left because power was shifted over to the parents.”

Regional District #13 Superintendent Kathryn Veronesi said school administrators were meeting Thursday with parents and players.

"The investigation is on-going and our focus is on our athletes and determining if we can complete this season with certified and qualified coaching staff and assure that our athletes’ safety and reputation is protected," Veronesi said in an email to NBC Connecticut.

“How could I preach accountability to my players, to be held accountable for your actions when now the parents just set a precedent anything I do or say as a coach they can question me,” D’Angelo said.

D’Angelo told NBC Connecticut he asked the rest of the coaching staff to stay with the team.

“And when they heard the allegations they were like no way, we’re with him, there’s no way this happened and I think it speaks merit my entire staff left,” D’Angelo said, adding two of the coaches to quit played for Coginchaug.

NBC Connecticut reached out to several parents of players on the football team and got no response.
 

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