The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference has honored Brian Cragin, an assistant coach for the Newtown High School Boy's Basketball team with the Assistant Coach of the Year Award. He was recognized earlier this month at a banquet at the Aquaturf in Southington.
Cragin, who has earned respect from former and current players as well as coaches and administrators in Newtown, is a humble man known for his humor and basketball knowledge – the perfect recipient for the award.
He has been in the coaching business for nearly 30 years, beginning in 1982 at St. Thomas More Prep in Colchester. His next teaching stops included Waterbury, Washington D.C. and New Fairfield. In addition to being a member of the Newtown High School football program's coaching staff, Cragin has been an assistant to John Quinn, the head boys' basketball coach for the past nine seasons.
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"Brian Cragin truly exemplifies all that is good in both education and interscholastic athletics," Quinn said in a letter recommending Cragin for the award. "He has been a dedicated, committed teacher and coach for almost 30 years."
With as much basketball knowledge Cragin has stored away, it is his loving personality and caring for those around him that make him liked by so many.
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"Brian has taught me so many aspects on the technical side of the game," Quinn said. "Yet most importantly, he has taught by example to appreciate the beauty of the game of basketball, and to realize what a privilege it is to coach high school kids."
Kyle Wilcox, a sophomore who played for the Junior Varsity team this season said Cragin's ability to communicate with his players is what made him so special.
"You understand more and more when you get to know him," Wilcox said. "And he is someone easy to become close with."
Cragin helped Wilcox improve his skills throughout the season, but it was Cragin's sense of humor and guidance that made him such a good coach.
"He taught me how to be a leader and how to act as a person on and off the basketball court," Wilcox said.
Dan Lynch, a senior guard who was awarded Academic All-State honors this season during the same Aquaturf banquet, has known Cragin for three years.
Lynch, who will attend the University of Connecticut next fall, completed the season as an All-SWC selection and was noted as one of the best defenders in the league as he helped captain the team to a 19-5 record.
"Coach Cragin knew that we were going to be good from the beginning, but he always wanted us to be better, " Lynch said. "He never stopped pushing us, and making us a better team. That is why we all respect him so much and we can't thank him enough."
Cragin is a big x's and o's guy but what is extremely important when coaching high school players is being able to connect with them on a personal level. Cragin, a teacher in the New Fairfield Public School system, did just that.
"He was the most amiable coach I've ever played under. He always knew how to make us laugh and there was never a practice that didn't incorporate fun," Lynch said.
Gregg Simon, the Newtown High School athletic director praised Coach Cragin for his professionalism on a day-to-day basis.
"Brian Cragin epitomizes all that is positive about a high school coach," Simon said. "He is knowledgeable, approachable, and most importantly has a passion for all of the sports he coaches and all of the student-athletes who are lucky enough to play on one of his teams."
