Former Wilton AD Nick Zeoli To Be Honored At Governor's Cup

Each year, at the annual Governor's Cup All-Star football game, six former high school football coaches - three from Connecticut and three from Rhode Island - are recognized at halftime of the contest.

Each of the coaches will have awards presented to outstanding players in the game in their name.

One of the Nutmeg State honorees is former Wilton athletic director Nick Zeoli, who was a fixture in Wilton athletics for decades, having served as the school's athletic director for 42 years before retiring in 1994.

He also became Wilton's first football coach in 1957, posting a 70-29 record in 13 seasons while winning two small school state championships and four Western Connecticut Conference championships.

Zeoli also coached track at Wilton for 24 years, with those teams also capturing two state and four league crowns. The school's field house is named after him.

In 1985, Zeoli was inducted into the Connecticut High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Connecticut Athletic Director's Hall of Fame.

In 1989, he was named the athletic director of the year by National High School Athletic Coaches Association, then inducted into the NHSACA Hall of Fame in 1997.

For the past 23 years, Zeoli has been a member of the Connecticut Special Olympics Association and in 1991 and 1993 he trained teachers in Pakistan to coach special athletes in track and field and soccer.

This year's Governor's Cup game will be played on June 26 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m.