Buonocore Embraces Heavy Load

Head football coach, physical education teacher and now athletic director. Jim Buonocore's plate is full at Ledyard High School.

But the newly appointed head Colonel of LHS athletic department believes it's a load he can carry without dropping anything.

Buonocore, Ledyard's football coach for the last three years, was named new athletic director earlier this month. He replaces Pete Vincent, who resigned after 10 years as AD in the spring to resume his coaching career.

Vincent, who has coached basketball and baseball at Ledyard, was quoted as saying the AD position entails so much administrative duties that it requires a person without any coaching responsibilities. Buonocore, 40, and Ledyard's administration, though, believe the jobs can be handled with his passion, leadership and management skills.

"I am very excited about stepping into the role," Buonocore said. "I believe that athletics is an extension of the classroom and as coaches and educators we must treat it as such. A properly run athletic program will provide students with the opportunity to learn the essential skills that they will need to be successful adults. The challenge is a great one, but it is also one that I am fully prepared for and eager to take on."

Buonocore was a prime candidate, having served as Stonington High's AD from 2001 to 2003. He was also head football coach then, leading the Bears to consecutive CIAC playoff berths, just the second and third grid post-seasons in school history. Buonocore does not feel the football program or other sports will suffer by his extra duties.

Time management

New London and Griswold are two local high schools with football coaches also serving as ADs. Buonocore learned to budget time while playing three sports at New London High and two sports at Springfield College.

"Time management, discipline, and commitment," Buonocore said. "Those same essential skills provide me with a solid background in being able to manage running the entire athletic program as well as the football program. This is not my first go-round. I am fully aware of what I am walking into. Not only (was Stonington) extremely successful on the football field, but all of our sports teams enjoyed great success during that time on and off the field."

Buonocore left Stonington to become head football coach at Fitch, which already had an AD. He left Fitch after five years in 2008 to  become Ledyard football coach. He led the Colonels to the 2008 Class M title game and has a 24-9 record after three seasons with three Thanksgiving Game wins over Fitch.

Football, wrestling and lacrosse rank as Ledyard's most successful boys' sports with wrestling leading the way with 17 overall state titles and four since 2000. Colonel wrestling coach Steve Bilheimer, who will remain as assistant AD, thoroughly endorses Buonocore's appointment. 

"I am very happy that Jim has been named the AD," Bilheimer said. "Jim brings experience, knowledge of sport, and a lot of passion towards athletics. He is a natural leader who is known for getting things done. I am happy to remain as his assistant and wrestling coach here at LHS. Jim has a lot of good ideas, and some of them are already under way."

A talent for innovation

Buonocore has a knack for innovation and public relations. At Fitch and Ledyard, he has organized off-season football strength and agility contests involving multiple schools that are unique to the area. He was a prime mover in attracting and producing a stellar seminar clinic with UConn offensive coordinator George DeLeone at LHS in April.

He also does his best to ensure deserving athletes receive All-State recognition and college scholarship or walk-on opportunities. A number of his former athletes at Stonington, Fitch and Ledyard have succeeded at the next level. Buonocore vows he will give every sports its due diligence.

One of Vincent's recent projects was to stimulate more interest and pride in female sports, which had struggled since 2000 but have experienced more success recently, making state playoffs in girls' basketball, soccer, lacrosse and tennis and finishing a close third in the track and field state meet this year.

"Change can be difficult at times, but I think the transition from Peter Vincent to Jim will be very minimal," Bilheimer said. "Both of these guys have the same general philosophy toward athletics, and a lot of good things already going on will stay as is."

Winning is not the everything in Buonocore's mind.

"Success in our athlete program will be measured not just by winning and losing," he said. "We will look at participation rates of all our teams, the number of scholar-athletes our program is producing on a yearly basis on a local and state level,  and our student-athletes community and civic involvement locally.

"Ledyard High School athletics has a proud and rich tradition. I feel that with my energy, enthusiasm and passion for high school athletics and the importance that I know it plays in a young person's life I can give the program what it needs to continue to grow, improve, and enhance the overall experience for the young people of Ledyard."

One of Buonocore's first orders of business will be to hire a boys' basketball coach. The Colonels won just one game this year. Buonocore also announced the department will hold a Fall Sports Night on Thursday Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the LHS auditorium. All students who plan on participating in a fall sport must attend with their parent or guardian. For more information, contactBuonocore at jbuonocore@ledyard.net