Staples hires Treglia as coach

The long, winding search to find Marce Petroccio’s replacement is over.

Staples on Monday tabbed Phil Treglia as its next football coach. Treglia, 41, comes from Archbishop Stepniac in White Plains, N.Y., with whom he worked last season as offensive coordinator.

Treglia was formally introduced at the Staples Gridiron Club’s annual golf outing at Longshore Golf Club on Monday. He was expected to meet with his new team afterward.

“I appreciate everyone’s patience throughout this process,” Treglia told members of the Gridiron Club. “What I felt this whole time was support from the community, support from the school system and the people that I work with to make this a possibility today. What really helped my decision was that the kids of Westport, the community was one. That’s really what I want to do as the football coach here, is blend the community with the high school and blend the boys from the PAL to the Staples football team as one community, one football program.”

Petroccio coached the Wreckers for the last 25 seasons, winning 210 games, three state championships and five FCIAC titles. The legendary coach resigned in late January to take a similar position at his alma mater, Trumbull.

Petroccio’s departure sent the Wreckers on a months- long search to fill what has long been regarded as one the premiere jobs in not only the FCIAC but also the state. Multiple sources told Hearst Connecticut Media that Treglia’s name was near Staples’ wish list from the start of the

search, but negotiations hit a snag when the school was unable to guarantee Treglia a teaching position.

Ultimately, it did not prove to be a deal- breaker for Treglia.

“I think this is the right place for myself and my family,” said Treglia, who works as a guidance counselor at Iona Prep in

New Rochelle, N.Y. “I appreciate your support. We’re going to get to work today right away at 2: 30 ( p. m.). I can’t wait to get there and meet the players. They’ve been extra patient in this process. We’re going to get together and get ready for football season right away starting today.”

Archbishop Stepniac went 10- 2 and won the NYSCHSAA championship under Treglia’s watch last season. The

Crusaders beat Canisius 49- 28 in the state final and averaged 35.5 points per game for the season. At Staples, Treglia takes over a team that went 6-4 and failed to make the CIAC playoffs for the second straight year.

“Right now, the most important thing is that the boys have a football coach,” Treglia said. “They’ve been very patient.”