EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The New York Giants have selected Mr. Craig Bruno of Bunnell High School (Stratford, CT) as "The Lou Rettino 2007 High School Football Coach of the Year." With a 22-14 victory over Masuk High School, Bunnell captured the CIAC Class L State championship for the 2nd straight year and finished the season with a perfect 13-0 record.
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| The Giants' Coach of the Week Award honors local coaches who are commited to youth football, their students, and the community they serve. |
In recognition of Coach Bruno's success and commitment, he will receive a certificate of recognition signed by the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Director of Football Operations Gene Washington, and the Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin. A $2,000 check will be granted to the Bunnell High School football program. Coach Bruno will be acknowledged by a stadium announcement when the Giants host the Washington Redskins on December 16th. An announcement will also be posted on the Giants web site, **www.giants.com**
The Lou Rettino High School Football Coach of the Year Award, started in 1996, is part of the Giants' continuing effort to promote youth football. The Giants elected to name the award in memory of former Union High School (NJ) coach, Lou Rettino, for his fine commitment to the game of football, his community and the betterment of his athletes' lives.
Each week during the 2007 high school football season, the Giants selected one area high school head coach as the Coach of the Week winner. The selection is based on the coach's continuing commitment towards promoting youth football, developing motivated student-athletes and his overall community involvement. At the conclusion of the 2007 season, the Giants choose one Coach of the Year, who receives $2,000 for his high school program.
Coach Bruno is in his seventh season as Head Football Coach at Bunnell High School, where he has compiled a 63-16-1 overall record. Each of his seven seasons he has finished with winning records, and his teams have made 4 CIAC playoff appearances, won back to back South-West Conference titles (2006 and 2007) and won back to back CIAC Class L state titles (2006 and 2007).
The 2007 season was full of excitement for the Bunnell squad. The team finished the regular season undefeated at 10-0, including a win on Thanksgiving over their cross town rival, Stratford High School. In the post-season, they defeated Masuk in the first round, 25-16 to capture the South-West conference championship, defeated Staples High School in the state semi-finals 28-14, and then for the 3rd time this season, defeated Masuk to capture the state championship.
Coach Bruno is a 1986 graduate of Bunnell High School, where he played football, basketball and baseball. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education and health from Southern Connecticut State University, and is now a physical education and health teacher in the Bridgeport Public Schools. He and his wife, Eileen, are the proud parents of two daughters, Marisa, 9, and Kristina, 5.
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