NFA names alum Jeff Brown its new boys’ basketball coach

Norwich — Jeff Brown, the boys’ basketball coach at Montville HIgh School last season, was named Norwich Free Academy’s new coach on Monday.

Brown, a 1995 NFA grad and currently a physical education teacher at the school, replaces Dave Cornish, who steppe down after guiding the Wildcats for two seasons.

“I know how important this position is to Jeff,” NFA athletic director Roy Wentworth said in a release. “He has earned this opportunity, and I am excited for our kids to learn all aspects of the game from him — from playing on the floor to showing improvement in the classroom and working together with our community.

“Jeff has been an important part of NFA since his time here as a student. He knows our kids, understands our kids and is driven to succeed. Nobody is going to work harder than Jeff, and the real beneficiaries of that will be our kids.”

Brown has 13 years of head coaching experience, including stints at Ledyard and Norwich Tech. He has also served as a varsity assistant at NFA, was the head girls’ golf coach for three seasons and has previously has been an NFA assistant in volleyball, softball, football and baseball.

“Coaching basketball at NFA has been my ultimate goal ever since I wore the red and white,” Brown said. “I truly believe athletics is an extension of the classroom, and I feel that I have the ability to teach the importance of hard work, respect, pride and determination. I am ready to work with our kids to ensure we are not only successful on the court, but off the court as well, whether that’s in the classroom or the community.”

Brown replaces Dave Cornish who resigned after two seasons.

H.S. boys’ golf

• East Lyme finished eighth and NFA 12th in the CIAC Division I tournament at Tallwood Country Club in

Hebron. Cheshire won the title with a 316 medal score while East Lyme finished at 341 and NFA at 351.

Guilford’s Andrew Beauton was the medalist with a 70 while the Vikings’ Jack Bucko tied for 14th with an 80 and Sebby DeCosta tied for 19th with an 81. Also for East Lyme, Tyler Moore shot an 88, Nathan Blankenship a 92 and Anthony Bartolota a 97. For NFA, Max Weston tied for 25th with an 82 while Nick Wigfield shot 85, Constantino Kapilotis shot 90, John Howe a 94 and Marcelo Raposo a 97.

H.S. baseball

• Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I and tournament champion

East Lyme and Class S semifinalist Lyman Memorial each had two players named to the Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association AllState team released Monday.

The Vikings’ John Bureau and Gavin O’Brien made the Class L team while the Bulldogs’ Jeremiah Bobbi and Michael Incontro made the Class S team. Lyman plays Haddam-Killingworth in Tuesday’s semifinal at 7 p.m. at Sage Park in Berlin.

Four other players were also selected. New London’s Derrel Mitchell and Waterford’s Brian Ingraham also made the Class L team while St. Bernard’s Joe Basso and Old Lyme’s Grady Lacourciere made the Class S team./