By Ron P. Coderre

The enigma of Woodstock Academy sports programs has apparently reached its peak.  The Centaurs, who excel in sports such as gymnastics and women’s golf, have had a difficult time competing in major sports such as football and baseball.

Listed as a member of the Large Division in the Eastern Connecticut Conference, Woodstock football and baseball have struggled causing administrators to wonder what direction they should take to make the teams competitive.  Recent hirings appear to demonstrate that Woodstock means business as it attempts to shift the fortunes of their major sports.

Excitement Reigns as Murphy 

Named Baseball Coach

The hiring of Brian Murphy as Woodstock Academy baseball coach has brought instant excitement to Centaur Nation and baseball season is a full eight months away.  Murphy brings a strong baseball mentality and a wealth of experience to the position.  There’s no doubt that he was a much sought after commodity as it was strongly rumored that Killingly High School was also in the chase for the former New York Yankees farmhand.

Murphy is a graduate of Tourtellotte Memorial High School and Eastern Connecticut State University, where he carved out outstanding careers at both institutions.  He’s a member of the Athletic Hall of Fame at both schools.

“It’s not very often that you get an opportunity to bring in a coach at the high school level of the caliber of Brian Murphy.  Coach Murphy is a ‘Baseball Guy’ from his days playing in Thompson to his days pitching in the New York Yankee organization,” said Academy Athletic Director Aaron Patterson in a news release.

“We’re excited that coach Murphy will bring ‘the Yankee Way’ to Woodstock Academy to create the ‘Woodstock Way’ on and off the baseball field,” Patterson added.

Murphy was a three-sport star at Tourtellotte, excelling on the baseball diamond as an All State performer under coach Tom Auclair.  Under coach Bill Holowaty, Murphy became an All American pitcher posting an overall 18-2 record for the Warriors.  He spent two all star season in the New York minor league system.  

Murphy is retired from a distinguished career in corrections where he was Connecticut Commissioner of Corrections.  He replaces Bill Carpenter, who resigned last year.  Woodstock was 7-13 in 2016.

Former Hawaii Quarterback 

Joins Football Staff

In an effort to turn a losing football program into a winner Woodstock Academy hired former Central Connecticut State University assistant coach Daryl Daleen to turn the gridiron program around.  Daleen has been at Woodstock for only a couple months and the football spirit appears to be gaining momentum.

In a recent announcement by Daleen, who also doubles as assistant athletic director, Greg Alexander, a former University of Hawaii quarterback, was introduced as the Centaurs assistant football coach.  Alexander comes across the country from Santa Rosa Junior College in California where he was a quarterback coach and adjunct professor.

Alexander played two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College prior to attending the University of Hawaii.  At Hawaii he started 11 games, throwing 23 touchdown passes and completing 64 percent of his passes for 3,328 yards.

“Greg Alexander brings the kind of experience and resume that people should come to expect from Woodstock Academy football.  His hiring is another display of the commitment the Academy to get the best experience for its students,” said coach Daleen in a news release.

The trio of Murphy, Daleen and Alexander appears to be a winning combination.  The results will only be known as the Woodstock athletes assemble for football and baseball.  The proof in the pudding will be not only the wins and losses but the response of the players to the new coaches and the intended ‘Woodstock Way.’