Sports
Trumbull Plays First Game Following Death Of Former Coaching Legend Jerry McDougall
Calling hours are Sunday, 1 – 7 p.m. at Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Rd. Trumbull. The funeral Mass is Monday at 11 a.m., at St. Theresa Church, 5301 Main Street Trumbull
The Trumbull football team will play its first game following the death of legendary former coach Jerry McDougall when the Eagles visit Darien on Saturday in a rematch of last year's FCIAC championship clash won by the Blue Wave.
The patriarch of the Trumbull program, McDougall passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 76. He coached the Eagles from 1967-1998, winning three state championships and five FCIAC titles. His career 265 wins ranked No. 1 in the state at the time of his retirement. McDougall also coached six seasons at the forrmer Central Catholic in Norwalk.
Saturday is sure to be an emotional day for current Trumbull coach Bob Maffei, who spent nearly 20 years on McDougall's staff before getting the head job. The Eagles will wear stickers on their helmets in McDougall's honor and are dedicating the rest of the season to him.
Find out what's happening in Trumbullfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Also, the FCIAC will name the league's championship trophy in McDougall's honor and the trophy for the annual Thanksgiving Day game between Trumbull and St. Joseph will be named for him as well.
Calling hours are Sunday, 1 – 7 p.m. at Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home (399 White Plains Rd, Trumbull). The funeral Mass is Monday at 11 a.m., at St. Theresa Church, 5301 Main Street, Trumbull.
Find out what's happening in Trumbullfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
McDougall also won 510 wins in 32 years as Trumbull's baseball coach from 1974-2005, leading the Eagles to three FCIAC championships, a pair of state crowns and two more state runner-up finishes. His 1986 and 1998 state-championships clubs were both ranked No. 1 in the state.
McDougall's 1986 football team was the first in Connecticut to go 13-0 and is considered one of the greatest in state history, finishing ninth in the USA Today national rankings.
McDougall was selected as the National High School Coach of the Year in football in 1993 and in baseball in 2003. He was named the FCIAC Football Coach of the Year four times and the conference's baseball Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2005.
A 40-year lifetime member of the American Football Coaches Association and a lifetime member of the IAABO Board 9 Basketball officials, McDougall was inducted into seven halls of fame, including the National High School Coaches Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 1997, he received a gold key from the Connecticut Sportswriters' Alliance and the following year Trumbull's field was named Jerry McDougall Stadium.
