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Sports

Case Confident He Can Move Past Controversy

Brendan Case, 26, Named Saint Bernard Athletic Director

New Saint Bernard High Athletic Director Brendan Case radiates confidence and enthusiasm when talking about his new job, a position opened by controversial circumstances this summer.

New St. Bernard headmaster Thomas Doherty named Case, 26, the new full-time AD this week for one year. The appointment will be reviewed at the end of the year.

Case, who was a Ledyard elementary school teacher and St. Bernard boys' tennis coach, among other coaching gigs last year, will oversee the athletic department and not coach at all this season.

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He acknowledges that there is a faction of disgruntled alumni, coaches, parents and athletes who were upset to see former AD and baseball coach Bill Buscetto dismissed in June by former headmaster William McKenna. In response to protests to reinstate Buscetto, the school in August offered him an AD-only position, which he refused.

"It's an emotional time for some people," Case said. "But if you leave emotion out of it, Saint Bernard is in a great place. The quality of education here is phenomenal and we have a great athletic department in place."

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Case sensed an opportunity to land a coveted athletic administration position early in his career. A graduate of Ledyard High, where he was a three-sport standout in basketball, soccer and tennis, Case graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University with a bachelor degree in sports and leisure management. He has taught in Ledyard's school system since 2007 and was an assistant football and basketball coach for the Colonels.

"Everything moved so quickly this summer at Saint Bernard, I wanted to throw my name in the hat for the opening," Case said. "There was no hesitation. I have the utmost in confidence in myself to do the job and I hit in off with [Doherty]. Coaching at a high-profile program like Ledyard football and a lower-profile situation with Saint Bernard tennis, I've seen both sides of the coaching spectrum and can relate to what all coaches go through."

As Ledyard JV basketball coach last winter, Case stepped in as varsity coach 15 games into the season after Jeff Brown resigned. The Colonels were 1-14, beating tiny Wheeler, at that time under Brown. They didn't win in the last five games, although they took state-tourney bound Fitch to overtime and played noticeably harder for Case, who was All-ECC Medium point guard during his LHS playing days.

The new position offers considerably more "upside" for Case.

"We're going to move forward in a positive direction," Case said. "I'm going to lead with great passion and energy. If you look behind, you're not going to be able to go to the great places we're going."

Saint Bernard still has a baseball coach and boys' tennis opening after Buscetto's departure. Another priority is football, where Jeff Cook is in his first season as football coach, directing a program that has fallen on hard times recently with 0-10 and 1-9 records in the last two years.

Many Saint sports such as baseball, softball, girls' lacrosse, girls' soccer, tennis and basketball stand in excellent shape. Case can't wait to get to work.

"I'm very fortunate that Saint Bernard has offered me this full-time job," Case said. "It's going to be a grind, but athletic administration is the career path I've chosen and I plan to be here for a long time."

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