On Saturday, October 1, Norwalk High School Head Football Coach Pete Tucci was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall Of Fame. Being inducted into the CTHSCA Hall of Fame is any coaches dream.  All the work that they’ve put into their program(s) has paid off in a reassuring matter. Coach Tucci is known and respected all around the town of Norwalk and far beyond that as well. The hard work and determination that he exhibits throughout his 33 years of coaching does not go unnoticed, and has inspired many to follow in his footsteps. Coach Kyle Seaburg exclaims “I owe a great deal of my coaching tactics to Tucci and could not name someone more deserving of this title than him.” Coach Tucci evidently passed on his “three rules” that Coach Seaburg still uses to this day at every annual field hockey picnic with the parents of the players.

Tucci has had many successes throughout his many years of coaching. One of his best seasons was his first (1998) when the Bears went 9-3 overall and 8-0 in the FCIAC East to capture the first division title in school history. That same year he led the Bears to the FCIAC championship game against Darien, while appearing in the Class LL state tournament for the first time in program history.  This season alone was incredibly admirable, especially being that it was his first year coaching. “The first year was special because we went to the FCIAC’s and the states and we set a record for most wins in a season,” Tucci reported.

Despite all of Tucci’s unbelievable accomplishments, the thing that matters most to him is the young men that he feels lucky to influence. “Just having someone walk up to me five years later and say, ‘Hi coach.’ Those are really good memories,” says Tucci. At Norwalk High School that is what we’re all about, opportunities and making connections. The coaches and athletes at NHS are always looking to further their seasons as much as possible, with goals set higher each year. Although, what really matters the most is what those athletes will carry with them for the rest of their lives. This work ethic and determination is what Tucci exhibits proficiently and directly reflects onto the many players lucky enough to have him as the mastermind behind their program.