North Haven Resident Named New AD At Sacred Heart Academy

HAMDEN, CT — North Haven’s Raymond Degnan III has been named the new athletic director at Sacred Heart Academy in Hamden, effective July 1, officials announced Tuesday. Degnan is currently an English teacher, assistant varsity and head junior varsity baseball coach and girls’ basketball varsity coach at North Haven High School. Degnan, who was hired after an extensive interview process, will be responsible for the development, supervision and maintenance of Sacred Heart Academy’s athletics program, according to President Sr. Sheila O’Neill, ASCJ, Ph.D.

“The committee and I felt strongly that Ray has the ability to promote the excellence and high expectations of sportsmanship, competitiveness and fair play of student-athletes, coaches, and spectators that we aspire to and support coaches, student-athletes and their families in understanding our mission,” O’Neill said.

A Fairfield Prep graduate, Degnan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College and Master of Arts in teaching from Sacred Heart University. For 12 years, he has been teaching and coaching at North Haven, where he is known as an excellent educator and coach, and a successful and natural leader, officials said. Other responsibilities at North Haven include serving as Girls’ Flag Football head coach, Unified Sports facilitator/coach, and CHSCA Senior All-Star Game coordinator.

Current Athletic Director George Bedocs, of Hamden, will “retire” for the second time this June after serving as Sacred Heart’s athletic director for 14 years. Prior to joining the Sacred Heart community, he was an educator at Hamden High School for 34 years. During his time as AD at Sacred Heart, golf and ice hockey were added to the athletic varsity offerings, which now number 14. For many years, Bedocs also served as the varsity soccer coach and was responsible for improvements made to the athletic facilities.

“George will be missed tremendously by the faculty and staff, parents, and especially the student athletes and we wish him well in this next chapter,” O’Neill said. “His ability to communicate with students and parents and his genuine care and concern for our student-athletes, as well as his ability to motivate students and coaches, has enriched the program and the Academy.”

Sacred Heart’s athletic program offers a choice of 26 teams competing in 14 varsity and junior varsity sports, with freshman teams in volleyball, basketball, and softball. Sacred Heart teams have qualified for All-Conference, All-State, and All-American selections. More than 60 percent of students compete in the following interscholastic sports:

Fall—Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Volleyball, Cheerleading

Winter—Basketball, Ice Hockey, Indoor Track, Cheerleading

Spring—Softball, Lacrosse, Golf, Tennis, Track and Field