When Anthony Piccolo took over coaching the Ansonia Chargers softball team, it was one of the weakest teams in the state.
Eight years later, the Chargers were a playoff team — making it into the Class M tournament for the fourth year in a row this year.
Now, as Piccolo settles into retirement, he has been honored for his work on the field.
This month, the Connecticut High School Coaches Association named Piccolo the Coach of the Year at a ceremony at the Aqua Turf in Southington.
Background
Piccolo began by playing stickball and handball in New York City at age 6.
He graduated from Shelton in 1964. He was a running back for the Gaels football team, a guard for the school’s basketball team, and an outfielder on the school’s baseball team.
“It’s the only thing you did in the city,” Piccolo said. “I like competing because it’s challenging and fun.”
After graduating from Shelton, Piccolo played football and baseball for Southern Connecticut State University.
After graduating from SCSU, he worked at Shelton High for 41 years, serving as a history teacher, guidance counselor and house master.
Then-Shelton baseball coach Joe Benanto got him into coaching and he hasn’t looked back ever since.
CHARGERS
Piccolo built the Ansonia softball team into a perennial contender before retiring after last season.
He is still assisting current coach Lindsay Wheeler to help ease the transition.
Ansonia players said Piccolo helped motivate them.
“He’s truly given me the motivation to keep going and to believe in myself and he has always been there to support me,” Jessica Mengold, Ansonia’s starting third baseman, Class ’08, said. “I think he deserves this award and is one person I look up too. He’s like a second father figure to me.”
“He’s disciplined our team very well and makes us do the right thing,” said senior tri-caption Kristin Mooney. “He always makes sure we’re close and that we hang out together on and off the field. He always likes to win and hates to lose. He’s very knowledgeable about the game and he always tells us what to do before every pitch.”
GAELS
Before coming to Ansonia, Piccolo boosted the Shelton softball program in the 1980s and 90s.
During his 12 years as Shelton’s head coach, his team won three Housatonic League titles.
Before serving as head coach in Shelton and Ansonia, he was an assistant for seven years at Masuk and for three years at Seymour and was the assistant Shelton baseball coach for 18 years.
Praise
Wheeler played for Piccolo before graduating from Shelton in 1996 and was his third base coach last year.
“He’s been a great mentor and role model to me and reminds me not to stress out the little things,” Wheeler said. “He’s turned the program around and put Ansonia softball back on the map.”
Ansonia athletic director Luba Soldra also had high remarks about Piccolo.
“He deserves it and I’m glad he’s been with us all these years and has provided leadership to all programs,” Ansonia athletic director Luba Soldra said. “He has certainly developed a program we’re proud of. Whenever we needed him, he was willing to step in and take responsibility.”
But Piccolo deflects credit to the ones he worked with.
“Having good players and a good relationship with them, helped,” Piccolo said. “All my athletes wanted to learn and play and I was fortunate to have good players at both schools.”
