Ledyard names Clay Killingsworth its head football coach
Ledyard — Clay Killingsworth, who spent the last two seasons as Norwich Free Academy's offensive coordinator, was named head football coach at Ledyard High School on Tuesday, athletic director Jim Buonocore announced.
Killingsworth replaces Jonathan Hernandez, who resigned after leading the Colonels for just one season.
"It is a great honor and privilege to have the opportunity to lead the Ledyard football program, Killingsworth said in a Ledyard press release. "Ledyard is a special place with a storied tradition and has support from the community that is second to none."
Killingsworth, who works as an environmental manager as the U.S. Naval Sub Base in Groton, has previous head coaching experience. He guided the Woodstock Academy program for three seasons (2013-15). He also served as an assistant at Woodstock in 2006 and 2007 and an assistant under Jemal Davis at NFA from 2008-13.
"Clay is a veteran football coach with experience as a head coach as well as offensive coordinator and play caller at the high school level," Buonocore said. "Clay established himself as the top candidate throughout our search process and he will mesh very nicely with the skill set of our returning assistant coaches.
"Coach Killingsworth is organized, structured and truly passionate about the game of football. Those qualities were on display throughout the interview process . ... We are confident Clay can come in and develop relationships with the student-athletes to increase participation and build the trust that is required for success on and off the football field."
Buonocore said Killingsworth is scheduled to meet with his new team on Thursday night.
"I look forward to building upon the incredible history here at Ledyard High School," Killingsworth said. "I am appreciative of the confidence Jim Buonocore and the school leadership have in me to lead this program. I would not have the opportunity to be in this position without a lot of great people who have helped guide and mentor me. I am truly humbled to be a Colonel."